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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
at last. It is he who endureth to the end that shall be saved. It is
they who patiently continue in well-doing that shall have eternal
life and the immortal reward. If this dear sister had been true to
her convictions, and had possessed steadiness of purpose, she might
have exerted a saving influence in her family, over her husband,
and she might have been a special help to her daughter. All who
are engaged in this warfare with Satan and his host have a close
work before them. They must not be as impressible as wax, that the
fire can melt into any form. They must endure hardness as faithful
soldiers, stand at their post, and be true every time.
God’s Spirit is striving with this entire family. He will save them
if they are willing to be saved in His appointed way. Now is the
hour of probation. Now is the day of salvation. Now, now, is God’s
time. In Christ’s stead we beseech them to become reconciled to
God while they may, and in humility, with fear and trembling, work
out their salvation. I was shown that it was the work of Satan to keep
the church in a state of insensibility, that the youth may be secured in
his own ranks. I saw that the youth were susceptible of the influence
of the truth. If the parents would consecrate themselves to God and
labor with interest for the conversion of their children, God would
reveal Himself to them and magnify His name among them.
I was then shown the case of Brother U, that Satan had been
fastening his bands about him and leading him away from God and
his brethren. Brother V has had an influence to greatly darken this
brother’s understanding with his unbelief. I was pointed back and
shown that the wisest course was not pursued in this brother’s case.
There was not sufficient reason why he should have been left out of
the church. He should have been encouraged, even urged, to unite
with his brethren in church capacity. He was in a more fit state to
come into the church than several who were united with it. He did not
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understand things clearly, and the enemy used this misunderstanding
to his injury. God, who sees hearts, has been better pleased with
the life and deportment of Brother U than with the lives of some
who were united with the church. It is the Lord’s will that he should
come close to his brethren, that he may be a strength to them and
they a strength to him.
The wife of Brother U can be reached by the truth. In many
respects her deportment is not as questionable as that of some who