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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
If Brother J enjoyed the love of God, he would be a channel of
light. He has too little moral power, with strong tendencies to unbelief.
He is pitied by the heavenly angels, for he is surrounded with darkness.
His ears hear words of unbelief and darkness almost continually. He
has doubts and questionings constantly thrown before him. The tongue
is a world of iniquity. “The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly
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evil, full of deadly poison.” If Brother J would cling to God more
firmly and feel that he should preserve his integrity before God even
at the cost of his natural life, he would receive strength from above.
If he allows his faith to be affected by the darkness and unbelief that
surrounds him—the doubts and questioning and much talk—he will
soon be all darkness and doubt and unbelief, and will have no light or
strength in the truth.
He need not think that by seeking to compromise with his friends,
who are embittered against our faith, he will make it easier for himself.
If he stands with the single purpose to obey God at any cost he will
have help and strength. God loves and pities Brother J. He knows
every perplexity, every discouragement, every bitter speech. He is
acquainted with it all. If he will lay aside his unbelief and stand in
God unmoved, his faith will be strengthened by exercise. “Now the
just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have
no pleasure in him.”
I saw Brethren J and G in special danger of losing eternal life.
They did not see that they were standing directly in the way of the
advancement of the work of God in _____. When the tent meeting
was held there the first time we were upon this coast, hundreds were
convicted of the truth; but God knew the material of which that church
was composed. If souls came out into the truth, there were none to
nourish and cherish them, and to lead them along to an elevated life.
Brother I was of an envious, faultfinding, jealous spirit. Unless he
could be first, he would not do anything. He esteemed himself far
more highly than God esteemed him. A man of his temperament will
not, long at a time, be in agreement with anyone; for it is his element
to contend, and to array himself in opposition to anything that does
not suit his ideas. The Lord left him to take his own course and to
manifest what manner of spirit he was of. He brought into the church,
and sought to carry out there, the very same spirit that he carried out
in his family. His bitterness and his cruel speeches against the servants