Faithful Reproofs Necessary
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making themselves church scavengers, are no advantage to the society
of which they form a part, but are an actual burden to the community
upon which they inflict themselves.
The church is in need, not of burdens, but of earnest workers; not
of faultfinders, but of builders in Zion. Missionaries are really needed
at the great heart of the work—men who will keep the fort, who will
be true as steel to preserve the honor of those whom God has placed
at the head of His work, and who will do their utmost to sustain the
cause in all its departments, even at the sacrifice of their own interests
and lives, if need be. But I was shown that there are but few who have
the truth wrought into their very souls, who can bear the searching test
of God. There are many who have taken hold of the truth, but the truth
has not taken hold of them, to transform their hearts and cleanse them
from all selfishness. There are those who come to-----to help in the
work, as well as many of the old members, who have a fearful account
to render to God for the hindrance they have been to the work through
their self-love and unconsecrated lives.
Religion has no saving virtue if the characters of those professing
it do not correspond with their profession. God has graciously given
great light to His people in-----; but Satan has his work to accomplish,
and he brings his power to bear most strongly at the great heart of the
work. He seizes men and women who are selfish and unconsecrated,
and makes of them sentinels to watch the faithful servants of God,
to question their words, their actions, and their motives, and to find
fault and murmur at their reproofs and warnings. Through them he
creates suspicion and jealousy, and seeks to weaken the courage of the
faithful, to please the unsanctified, and to bring to nought the labors of
God’s servants.
Satan has had great power over the minds of parents through their
undisciplined children. The sin of parental neglect stands marked
against many Sabbathkeeping parents. The spirit of gossip and tale-
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bearing is one of Satan’s special agencies to sow discord and strife, to
separate friends, and to undermine the faith of many in the truthfulness
of our positions. Brethren and sisters are too ready to talk of the faults
and errors that they think exist in others, and especially in those who
have borne unflinchingly the messages of reproof and warning given
them of God.