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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
for souls would thus be imperiled. These men are unfitted to lead the
flock of God. At the very time when their words should be few and
well chosen, modest and unassuming, their natural traits of character
are woven into all they do and say, and the work of God is marred.
You and Brother C have not had true discernment. You have had
too great confidence in the ability of these men. A ship may be sound
in nearly every respect; but if there is one defect,—a bit of timber
worm-eaten,—the lives of all on board are imperiled. Nearly all the
links of a chain may be sound, but one defective link destroys its worth.
Individuals who possess excellent qualities may have some marked
traits of character which unfit them to be entrusted with the solemn,
sacred work of God. But these men are deficient in nearly everything
that pertains to Christian character. Their example is not worthy of
imitation.
You need to have much done for you, my brother, before your
labors can be what they might and should be. Your understanding
has been darkened. Sympathy and union with those whose characters
have been cast in an inferior mold will not elevate and ennoble you,
but will rust and corrode your spirit, and will mar your usefulness and
disconnect you from God. You are of an impulsive nature. Burdens
of domestic life and of the cause do not rest very heavily upon you,
and unless you are constantly under the refining influence of the Spirit
of God you will be in danger of becoming coarse in your manners.
In order to rightly represent the character of Christ, you need to be
spiritualized and brought into a closer connection with God in the
great work in which you are engaged. Your own thoughts must be
elevated, your own heart sanctified, in order for you to be a co-worker
with Jesus Christ. “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.”
The work of God in Texas would stand higher today if the B
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brothers had no connection with it. I might mention more particular
reasons why this is so, but will not at this time. Suffice it to say
that these men are not right with God. Feeling self-sufficient and
competent for almost any calling, they have not made efforts to correct
the objectionable traits of character which were transmitted to them as
a birthright, but which by education, culture, and training might have
been overcome. They have made some improvements in this direction;
but if weighed in the balances, they would still be found wanting.