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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
The heart of God never yearned toward His earthly children with
deeper love and more compassionate tenderness than now. There never
was a time when God was ready and waiting to do more for His people
than now. And He will instruct and save all who choose to be saved
in His appointed way. Those who are spiritual can discern spiritual
things and see tokens of the presence and work of God everywhere.
Satan, by his skillful and wicked strategy, led our first parents from
the Garden of Eden—from their innocence and purity into sin and
unspeakable wretchedness. He has not ceased to destroy; all the forces
which he can command are diligently employed by him in these last
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days to compass the ruin of souls. He seizes every artifice that he can
use to deceive, perplex, and confuse the people of God.
He has used you as his agent to scatter darkness and confusion,
and he finds that you work admirably in his hands. You are the very
instrument that he can handle with good effect to hurt, discourage, and
tear down. You are not zealous to put your shoulder under the load
with the people of God; but when they would move, you throw yourself
as an additional load to prevent them from doing what they might do
in advancing in the right direction. Satan is at work with those who
keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. The most
bitter hatred exists within him against all who are loyal to God and
who obey His commandments. He sleeps not; he does not abate his
vigilance for one moment. Would that God’s professed followers were
half as wise, diligent, and persevering in the work of God as Satan is
in his work.
Had you, Brother B, followed on when you first set your hand to
the plow, and not looked back, you would now have been a messenger
of light to bear the truth to those in darkness. But God could not use
you to His glory until you should learn to counsel with your brethren
and not to think you knew all that was worth knowing. Satan has
succeeded in keeping you from doing good. You did run well for a
season, but Satan’s temptations overcame you. You loved to be first
and to be flattered. You loved the power which money gives. Satan
understands the weakness of men. He has the knowledge which he
has accumulated for ages and is an experienced hand at his work. His
cunning and devices are well matured, and are too often successful
because God’s people are not as wise as serpents.