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Chapter 79—Transferring Earthly Treasure
Dear Brother N,
I have felt very much burdened over your case since we met you
at the Tipton camp meeting. I could scarcely refrain from addressing
you personally while speaking to the people upon the words of
Christ: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth
and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
I recollected your countenance as one that had been shown me in
vision some time ago. You were thinking you had a duty to preach
the word to others; but your example, as you now are, would hinder
more from embracing the truth than your preaching would convert
to its belief. You profess to believe a most solemn, testing message;
yet your faith has not been sustained by works. You have the truth
in theory, but you have not been converted by it. The truth has not
fully taken hold of your heart and been carried out in your daily life.
You need to be converted, transformed by the renewing of your
mind. When the truth takes hold of your heart, it will work a refor-
mation in the life. The unbelieving world will then be convinced that
there is a power in the truth which has wrought so great a change
in such a world-loving man as you have been. You love this world.
Your treasures are here, and your heart is upon your treasures. And
unless the power of the truth shall separate your affections from your
god, which is this world, you will perish with your treasures.
You have but little sense of the exalted character of the work for
these last days. You have not made sacrifices for the truth. You have
a close, penurious spirit, and have closed your eyes to the wants of
the distressed and needy. Your compassion has not been stirred to
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relieve the wants of the oppressed, neither have you had a heart to aid
the cause of God with your means or to distribute to the necessities
of the suffering. Your heart is on your earthly treasures. Unless you
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