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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
yield your own spirit and take in its place the spirit of the dear Saviour.
Reach up and grasp His hand, that the touch may electrify you and
charge you with the sweet properties of His own matchless character.
You may open your hearts to His love, and let His power transform
you and His grace be your strength. Then will you have a powerful
influence for good. Your moral strength will be equal to the closest
test of character. Your integrity will be pure and sanctified. Then will
your light break forth as the morning.
You both need to come more into sympathy with other minds.
Christ is our example; He identified Himself with suffering humanity;
He made the necessities of others a consideration of His own. When
His brethren suffered, He suffered with them. Any slight or neglect of
His disciples is the same as if done to Christ Himself. Thus He says:
“I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave Me no drink.”
Dear brother and sister, you should seek for more harmonious
characters. The absence of one essential qualification may render the
rest almost inefficient. The principles you profess should be carried
into every thought, word, and act. Self should be crucified and the
entire being made subordinate to the Lord.
The church is greatly deficient in love and humanity. Some pre-
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serve a cold, chilling reserve, an iron dignity, that repels those who are
brought within their influence. This spirit is contagious; it creates an
atmosphere that is withering to good impulses and good resolves; it
chokes the natural current of human sympathy, cordiality, and love;
and under its influence people become constrained, and their social
and generous attributes are destroyed for want of exercise. Not only is
the spiritual health affected, but the physical health suffers by this un-
natural depression. The gloom and chill of this unsocial atmosphere is
reflected upon the countenance. The faces of those who are benevolent
and sympathetic will shine with the luster of true goodness, while those
who do not cherish kindly thoughts and unselfish motives express in
their faces the sentiments cherished in their hearts.
Sister F, your feelings toward your sister are not exactly as God
would have them. She needed sisterly affection from you, and less dic-
tating and faultfinding. Your course with her has caused a depression
of spirit and an anxiety of mind injurious to her health. Be careful lest
you oppress and discourage your own sister. You cannot bear anything