Faithful Reproofs Necessary
193
is diligently laying plans to undermine the work of God. He never rests
for a moment when he sees that the right is gaining the ascendancy.
He has legions of evil angels that he sends to every point where light
from heaven is shining upon the people. Here he stations his pickets
to seize every unguarded man, woman, or child and press them into
his service.
The great heart of the work is at-----; and, as the human heart
throws its living current of blood into all parts of the body, so does the
management at this place, the headquarters of our church, affect the
whole body of believers. If the physical heart is healthy, the blood that
is sent from it through the system is also healthy; but if this fountain
is impure, the whole organism becomes diseased by the poison of the
vital fluid. So it is with us. If the heart of the work becomes corrupt, the
whole church, in its various branches and interests, scattered abroad
over the face of the earth, suffers in consequence.
Satan’s chief work is at the headquarters of our faith. He spares
[211]
no pains to corrupt men in responsible positions and to persuade them
to be unfaithful to their several trusts. He insinuates his suspicions
and jealousies into the minds of those whose business it is to do God’s
work faithfully. While God is testing and proving these helpers, and
fitting them for their posts, Satan is doing his utmost to deceive and
allure them, that they may not only be destroyed themselves, but may
influence others to do wrong and to injure the great work. He seeks by
all the means in his power to shake the confidence of God’s people in
the voice of warning and reproof through which God designs to purify
the church and prosper His cause.
It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Tes-
timonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our
faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures,
and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies,
which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the
deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he
launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends
in destruction.
Satan has gained marked advantage in-----because the people of
God have not guarded the outposts. The very men whose labors God
has signified that He would accept if they were fully consecrated have
been the ones to be deceived, to fail in their duties, and to prove a