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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
The most eloquent sermon that can be preached upon the law
of Ten Commandments is to do them. Obedience should be made a
personal duty. Negligence of this duty is flagrant sin. God lays us under
obligations not only to secure heaven ourselves, but to feel it a binding
duty to show others the way and, through our care and disinterested
love, to lead toward Christ those who come within the sphere of our
influence. The singular absence of principle that characterizes the lives
of many professed Christians is alarming. Their disregard of God’s
law disheartens those who recognize its sacred claims and tends to
turn those from the truth who would otherwise accept it.
In order to gain a proper knowledge of ourselves, it is necessary
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to look into the mirror, and there discovering our own defects, avail
ourselves of the blood of Christ, the fountain opened for sin and
uncleanness, in which we may wash our robes of character and remove
the stains of sin. But many refuse to see their errors and correct them;
they do not want a true knowledge of themselves.
If we would reach high attainments in moral and spiritual excel-
lence we must live for it. We are under personal obligation to society
to do this, in order continually to exert an influence in favor of God’s
law. We should let our light so shine that all may see that the sacred
gospel is having an influence upon our hearts and lives, that we walk
in obedience to its commandments and violate none of its principles.
We are in a great degree accountable to the world for the souls of those
around us. Our words and deeds are constantly telling for or against
Christ and that law which He came to earth to vindicate. Let the world
see that we are not selfishly narrowed up to our own exclusive interests
and religious joys, but that we are liberal and desire them to share our
blessings and privileges through the sanctification of the truth. Let
them see that the religion which we profess does not close up nor
freeze over the avenues to the soul, making us unsympathizing and
exacting. Let all who profess to have found Christ, minister as He did
to the benefit of man, cherishing a spirit of wise benevolence. We shall
then see many souls following the light that shines from our precept
and example.
We should all cultivate an amiable disposition and subject ourselves
to the control of conscience. The spirit of the truth makes better men
and women of those who receive it in their hearts. It works like leaven
till the entire being is brought into conformity to its principles. It