State of the World
429
men have a religion of the head, but their hearts are not sanctified by
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the truths they hear. Such can never lead others to the Fountain of
living waters until they have drunk of the stream themselves.
It is no time now for lightness, vanity, or trifling. The scenes of
this earth’s history are soon to close. Minds that have been left to loose
thought need change. Says the apostle Peter: “Gird up the loins of your
mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought
unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not
fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Loose thoughts must be gathered up and centered on God. The
very thoughts should be in obedience to the will of God. Praise should
not be given or expected; for this will have a tendency to foster self-
confidence rather than to increase humility, to corrupt rather than to
purify. Men who are really qualified and who feel that they have a part
to act in connection with the work of God will feel pressed beneath the
sense of the sacredness of the work, as a cart beneath sheaves. Now
is the time to make the most earnest efforts to overcome the natural
feelings of the carnal heart.
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