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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
earth. God’s purposes have not been answered by men who have been
entrusted with the most solemn truth ever given to man. He designs
that we should rise higher and higher toward a state of perfection,
seeing and realizing at every step the power and glory of God. Man
does not know himself. Our responsibilities are exactly proportioned
to our light, opportunities, and privileges. We are responsible for
the good we might have done, but failed to do because we were too
indolent to use the means for improvement which were placed within
our reach.
The precious book of God contains rules of life for men of every
class and every vocation. Examples are here found which it would
be well for all to study and imitate. “The Son of God came not to
be ministered unto, but to minister.” The true honor and glory of the
servant of Christ consists, not in the number of sermons preached, nor
in the amount of writing accomplished, but in the work of faithfully
ministering to the wants of the people. If he neglects this part of his
work he has no right to the name of minister.
Men are needed for this time who can understand the wants of the
people and minister to their necessities. The faithful minister of Christ
watches at every outpost to warn, to reprove, to counsel, to entreat, and
to encourage his fellow men, laboring with the Spirit of God which
worketh in him mightily, that he may present every man perfect in
Christ. Such a man is acknowledged in heaven as a minister, treading
in the footsteps of his great Exemplar.
Our preachers are not particular enough in regard to their habits of
eating. They partake of too large quantities of food and of too great
a variety at one meal. Some are reformers only in name. They have
no rules by which to regulate their diet, but indulge in eating fruit or
nuts between their meals, and thus impose too heavy burdens upon
the digestive organs. Some eat three meals a day, when two would
be more conducive to physical and spiritual health. If the laws which
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God has made to govern the physical system are violated, the penalty
must surely follow.
Because of imprudence in eating, the senses of some seem to be
half paralyzed, and they are sluggish and sleepy. These pale-faced
ministers who are suffering in consequence of selfish indulgence of
the appetite are no recommendation of health reform. When suffering
from overwork, it would be much better to drop out a meal occasionally