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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
the defiling use of liquor and the narcotic tobacco. This is already the
condition of our world, and these indulgences are found even among
God’s professed people, some of whom are following the customs
and partaking of the sins of the world. Lawyers, mechanics, farmers,
traders, and even ministers from the pulpit are crying, “Peace and
safety,” when destruction is fast coming upon them.
Belief in the near coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven
will not cause the true Christian to become neglectful and careless of
the ordinary business of life. The waiting ones who look for the soon
appearing of Christ will not be idle, but diligent in business. Their
work will not be done carelessly and dishonestly, but with fidelity,
promptness, and thoroughness. Those who flatter themselves that
careless inattention to the things of this life is an evidence of their
spirituality and of their separation from the world are under a great
deception. Their veracity, faithfulness, and integrity are tested and
proved in temporal things. If they are faithful in that which is least
they will be faithful in much.
I have been shown that here is where many will fail to bear the test.
They develop their true character in the management of temporal con-
cerns. They manifest unfaithfulness, scheming, dishonesty, in dealing
with their fellow men. They do not consider that their hold upon the
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future, immortal life depends upon how they conduct themselves in
the concerns of this life, and that the strictest integrity is indispensable
to the formation of a righteous character. Dishonesty is practiced all
through our ranks, and this is the cause of lukewarmness on the part
of many who profess to believe the truth. They are not connected
with Christ and are deceiving their own souls. I am pained to make
the statement that there is an alarming lack of honesty even among
Sabbathkeepers.
I was referred to Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. Here we have the
injunction of the Great Teacher: “All things whatsoever ye would that
men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and
the prophets.” This command of Christ is of the highest importance
and should be strictly obeyed. It is like apples of gold in pictures of
silver. How many carry out in their lives the principle Christ has here
enjoined, and deal with others just as they would wish to be dealt with
under similar circumstances? Reader, please answer.