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purposes, the unbelief, the suspicions and jealousies may be hid from
men, but not from Christ. The True Witness comes as a counselor: “I
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counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that
thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous
therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any
man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to
sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with My Father in His throne.”
Those who are reproved by the Spirit of God should not rise up
against the humble instrument. It is God, and not an erring mortal, who
has spoken to save them from ruin. Those who despise the warning
will be left in blindness to become self-deceived. But those who heed
it, and zealously go about the work of separating their sins from them
in order to have the needed graces, will be opening the door of their
hearts that the dear Saviour may come in and dwell with them. This
class you will ever find in perfect harmony with the testimony of the
Spirit of God.
Ministers who are preaching present truth should not neglect the
solemn message to the Laodiceans. The testimony of the True Witness
is not a smooth message. The Lord does not say to them, You are
about right; you have borne chastisement and reproof that you never
deserved; you have been unnecessarily discouraged by severity; you
are not guilty of the wrongs and sins for which you have been reproved.
The True Witness declares that when you suppose you are really
in a good condition of prosperity you are in need of everything. It is
not enough for ministers to present theoretical subjects; they should
also present those subjects which are practical. They need to study
the practical lessons that Christ gave His disciples and make a close
application of the same to their own souls and to the people. Because
Christ bears this rebuking testimony, shall we suppose that He is
destitute of tender love to His people? Oh, no! He who died to redeem
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man from death, loves with a divine love, and those whom He loves
He rebukes. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” But many
will not receive the message that Heaven in mercy sends them. They