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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
real distress have you borne for others, that you are no more prepared
to appreciate his work than is a ten-year-old boy the care, anxiety, and
wearisome toil of his burdened father. The boy may pass along joyous
in spirit because he has not the experience of the burdened, careworn
father. He may wonder at the fears and anxieties of the father, which
look needless to him; but when years of experience shall be added to
his life, when he takes hold of and bears its real burdens, then he may
look back to his father’s life and understand that which was mysterious
to him in his boyhood; for bitter experience has given him knowledge.
I was shown that you are in danger of getting above the simplicity
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of the work and of placing yourself upon the pinnacle. You feel that
you need no reproof and counsel, and the language of your heart is:
“I am capable of judging, discriminating, and determining between
right and wrong. I will not have my rights infringed upon. No one
shall dictate to me. I am capable of forming my own plans of action.
I am as good as anybody. God is with me and gives me success in
my efforts. Who has authority to interfere with me?” These words
I heard you utter, as your case was passing before me in vision, not
to any person, but as if in conversation with yourself. My attending
angel repeated these words, as he pointed to you both: “Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven. Whosoever shall humble himself as this little
child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
I saw that the strength of the children of God is in their humility.
When they are little in their own eyes, Jesus will be to them their
strength and their righteousness, and God will prosper their labors. I
was shown that God would prove Brother A. He would give him a
measure of prosperity; and if he would bear the test, if he would turn
the blessings of God to good account, not taking honor to himself and
not becoming lifted up, selfish, and self-confident, the Lord would
continue His blessings for the sake of His cause and for His own glory.
I saw, Brother A, that you were in the greatest danger of becoming
lifted up, self-righteous, self-sufficient, and feeling that you are rich
and in need of nothing. Unless you guard yourself upon these points,
the Lord will allow you to go on until you make your weakness ap-
parent to all. You will be brought into positions where you will be
sorely tempted if others do not regard you in as exalted a light as you
estimate yourself and your ability. I was shown that you were poorly