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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
out beyond self. As she has done this she has been blessed. The more
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she does for others’ good, the more she sees to do and the more she
feels inclined to do.
Her work for others frequently brings her where the exercise of
faith is necessary to bring her through hard and trying positions. But
answers to earnest prayers are realized, and faith, love, and confidence
in God are strengthened. Through oft repeated perplexities and trials,
experience is obtained. God is molding the heart into something more
like Himself. And yet self clamors constantly for the victory. Sister
N needs to cultivate more tenderness and thoughtful care in her daily
connection with others. She needs to study to subdue self. If she is
indeed a Christian she will feel that she must devote the best part, and
if need be the whole, of her life to unselfish, patient toil and thus show
her love for the Master. Without this experience she would fall far
short of perfection of Christian character.
Sister N has taken some advance steps, and the family feel that
she has left them, and this is a crucifixion to them. They do not feel
that she now has the same interest and affections and objects in life
as themselves. They feel that they can no longer enjoy, as formerly,
the society of their sister. They feel that she is to blame, that she has
changed, and that her sympathy is no longer one with theirs. The
reason for this lack of assimilation of feeling is that Sister N has been
advancing in feeling for others’ woes, while they have been slothful
servants, not doing the work God has given them to do on earth.
Consequently they have been retrograding. The family have selfishly
shut up their interest and affection to themselves and the love of the
world.
N has been a worker in a good cause. The health reform has been
to her a subject of great importance, for her experience has shown her
its necessity. Her father’s family have not seen the necessity of health
reform. They have not seen the part that it acts in the closing work
of these last days, because they have not been inclined to see. They
have dropped into the cart rut of custom, and it is a difficult work to
make the effort required to get out. They would rather be let alone. It
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is a terrible thing to rust from inaction. But this family will surely be
weighed in the balances and found wanting unless they begin at once
to do something. “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he
is none of His.” This is close language. Who can stand the test? The