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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
Those who have had many years of experience in the cause of God
should, above all others, put to the highest use the talents entrusted
them by the Master. But the example of some has been too much
on the side of conformity to the world, rather than of maintaining
the distinct and separate character of God’s peculiar people. They
have had an influence to indulge rather than deny the appetite and the
inclination to dress according to the world’s standard. This is all in
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opposition to the work which God and angels are seeking to do for us
as a people to bring out, to separate, to distinguish us from the world.
We should sanctify ourselves as a people and seek strength from God
to meet the demands of this time. When iniquity prevails in the world,
God’s people should seek to be more closely connected with heaven.
The tide of moral evil comes upon us with such power that we shall
lose our balance and be swept away with the current unless our feet
stand firmly upon the Rock Christ Jesus.
The prosperity of the sanitarium is not dependent alone upon the
intelligence and knowledge of its physicians, but upon the favor of
God. If it is conducted in a manner that God can bless it will be highly
successful and will stand in advance of any other institution of the kind
in the world. Great light, great knowledge, and superior privileges
have been given. And in accordance with the light which has been
received, but has not been improved and therefore is not shining forth
upon others, will be the condemnation.
The minds of some are being turned into the channel of unbelief.
These persons think they see reason to doubt the word and the work
of God, because the course of some professed Christians looks ques-
tionable to them. But does this move the foundation? We are not to
make the course of others the basis of our faith. We are to imitate
Christ, the perfect Pattern. If any allow their hold on Him to be weak-
ened because men err, because defects are seen in the characters of
those who profess the truth, they will ever be on sliding sand. Their
eyes must be directed to the Author and Finisher of their faith; they
must strengthen their souls with the assurance of the great apostle:
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are His.” God cannot be deceived. He
reads character correctly. He weighs motives. Nothing escapes His
all-seeing eye; the thoughts, the intents and purposes of the hearts—all
are discerned by Him.