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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
important matter for ministers, your case has been brought before
me, and I intended ere this to have written you; but it was impossible.
For three nights I have slept but little. Your case has been upon my
mind almost constantly. I was mentally writing to you in my sleep,
and also when awake. When I recognized in the congregation the
very individuals that had been injured by your influence, I should
have brought the matter out, had you been present. Not one word
from any mortal was intimated to me in regard to your course. I felt
compelled to speak to one or two in reference to the matter, stating to
them that I recollected their countenances in connection with some
things shown me in regard to you. Then, very reluctantly, facts were
related to me confirming all I had stated to them. I have said only
what I believed I should say in the fear of God, discharging my duty
as His servant.
[542]
Two years ago I saw that you and your wife were both very
selfish, grasping persons. Your own selfish interests were dearer to
you than souls for whom Christ died. I was shown that you were not
generally successful in your labors. You have the ability to present
the truth; you have an investigating mind; and if it were not for
the many defects in your Christian character, you could accomplish
good. But, for many reasons, you have not made the preaching of
the truth a success. One of the greatest curses of your life, Brother
A, has been your supreme selfishness. You have been figuring for
your own advantage. You both have made yourselves the center of
sympathy and attention. When you go to a place and enter a family,
you throw your whole weight upon them, let them cook for you and
wait upon you; and neither of you seeks to do as much work as you
make. The family may be toiling hard, bearing their own burdens
and yours; but you are both so selfish that you cannot see that they
are worn and that you are both physically better able than they to
perform the labor which they do for you. Brother A, you are too
indolent to please God. When wood or water is needed, you do
not know it, and you let these be brought by those who are already
overworked, and frequently by females, when these little errands,
these courtesies of life, are what you need to perform for the benefit
of your health. You are full of flesh and blood, and do not exercise
half enough for your own good. The indolence you manifest, and the