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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
The claims of God are equally binding upon all. Those who choose
to neglect the great salvation offered to them freely, who choose to
serve themselves and remain enemies of God, enemies of the self-
sacrificing Redeemer, are earning their wages. They are sowing to the
flesh and will of the flesh reap corruption.
Those who have put on Christ by baptism, by this act showing
their separation from the world and that they have covenanted to walk
in newness of life, should not set up idols in their hearts. Those who
have once rejoiced in the evidence of sins forgiven, who have tasted a
Saviour’s love and who then persist in uniting with the foes of Christ,
rejecting the perfect righteousness that Jesus offers them and choosing
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the ways that He has condemned, will be more severely judged than
the heathen who have never had the light and have never known God
or His law. Those who refuse to follow the light which God has given
them, choosing the amusements, vanities, and follies of the world, and
refusing to conform their conduct to the just and holy requirements
of God’s law, are guilty of the most aggravating sins in the sight of
God. Their guilt and their wages will be proportionate to the light and
privileges which they have had.
We see the world absorbed in their own amusements. The first
and highest thoughts of the larger portion, especially of women, are
of display. Love of dress and pleasure is wrecking the happiness
of thousands. And some of those who profess to love and keep the
commandments of God ape this class as near as they possibly can
and retain the Christian name. Some of the young are so eager for
display that they are even willing to give up the Christian name if they
can only follow out their inclination for vanity of dress and love of
pleasure. Self-denial in dress is a part of our Christian duty. To dress
plainly, abstaining from display of jewelry and ornaments of every
kind, is in keeping with our faith. Are we of the number who see the
folly of worldlings in indulging in extravagance of dress as well as
in love of amusements? If so, we should be of that class who shun
everything that gives sanction to this spirit which takes possession of
the minds and hearts of those who live for this world only and who
have no thought or care for the next.
Christian youth, I have seen in some of you a love for dress and
display which has pained me. In some who have been well instructed,
who have had religious privileges from their babyhood, and who have