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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
There is danger that ministers who profess to believe present truth
will rest satisfied with presenting the theory only, while their own
souls do not feel its sanctifying power. Some have not the love of
God in the heart, softening, molding, and ennobling their lives. The
psalmist declares of the good man: “His delight is in the law of the
Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” He refers to
his own experience, and exclaims: “O how love I Thy law! it is my
meditation all the day.” “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I
might meditate in Thy word.”
No man is qualified to stand in the sacred desk unless he has felt the
transforming influence of the truth of God upon his own soul. Then,
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and not till then, can he by precept and example rightly represent the
life of Christ. But many in their labors exalt themselves rather than
their Master, and the people are converted to the minister instead of to
Christ.
I am pained to know that some who preach the present truth today
are really unconverted men. They are not connected with God. They
have a head religion, but no conversion of the heart; and these are
the very ones who are the most self-confident and self-sufficient; and
this self-sufficiency will stand in the way of their gaining that experi-
ence which is essential to make them effective workers in the Lord’s
vineyard. I wish I could arouse those who claim to be watchmen on
the walls of Zion to realize their responsibility. They should awake
and take a higher stand for God, for souls are perishing through their
neglect. They must have that sincere devotion to God that will lead
them to see as God sees and take the words of warning from Him and
sound the alarm to those who are in peril. The Lord will not hide His
truth from the faithful watchman. Those who do the will of God shall
know of His doctrine. The wise shall understand;” but “the wicked
shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand.”
Said Jesus to His disciples: “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart.” I would plead with those who have accepted the position
of teachers, to first become humble learners, and ever to remain as
pupils in the school of Christ to receive from the Master lessons of
meekness and lowliness of heart. Humility of spirit, combined with
earnest activity, will result in the salvation of souls so dearly purchased
by the blood of Christ. The minister may understand and believe the
theory of truth, and be able to present it to others; but this is not all