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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
has never been so important a period in the history of the sanitarium
as the present, never a time when so much was at stake. We are
surrounded with the perils of the last days. Satan has come down with
great power, working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in
them that perish; for he knows that his time is short. The light must
now shine forth in our words and deportment with increased brightness
on the path of those who are in darkness.
There are some who are not what the Lord would have them to be.
They are abrupt and harsh, and need the softening, subduing influence
of the Spirit of God. It is never convenient to take up the cross and
follow in the path of self-denial, and yet this must be done. God wants
all to have His grace and His Spirit to make fragrant their life. Some
are too independent, too self-sufficient, and do not counsel with others
as they should.
My brethren, we are living in a solemn time. An important work
is to be done for our own souls and for the souls of others or we shall
meet with an infinite loss. We must be transformed by the grace of
God or we shall fail of heaven, and through our influence others will
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fail with us. Let me assure you that the struggles and conflicts which
must be endured in the discharge of duty, the self-denials and sacrifices
which must be made if we are faithful to Christ, are not created by
Him. They are not imposed by arbitrary or unnecessary command;
they do not come from the severity of the life which He requires us to
lead in His service. Trials would exist in greater power and number
were we to refuse obedience to Christ and become the servants of
Satan and the slaves of sin.
Jesus invites us to come to Him and He will lift the weights from
our weary shoulders and place upon us His yoke, which is easy, and
His burden, which is light. The path in which He invites us to walk
would never have cost us a pang had we always walked in it. It is
when we stray from the path of duty that the way becomes difficult
and thorny. The sacrifices which we must make in following Christ
are only so many steps to return to the path of light, of peace and
happiness. Doubts and fears grow by indulgence, and the more they
are indulged, the harder are they to overcome. It is safe to let go every
earthly support and take the hand of Him who lifted up and saved the
sinking disciple on the stormy sea.