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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
teach them submission to authority in their youth. Petting faults and
soothing outbreaks is not laying the ax at the root of the evil, but proves
the ruin of thousands of souls. Oh, how will parents answer to God
for this fearful neglect of their duty!
Brother G, you are willing to stand at the head and dictate to others,
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but you will not be dictated to yourself. Your pride fires in a moment
at the attempt. Self-love and a haughty spirit are unruly elements in
your character, hindering spiritual advancement. Those who have this
temperament must take hold of the work zealously and die to self, or
they will lose heaven. God makes no compromise with this element,
as do fond, mistaken parents.
In my last vision I was shown that if you refuse reproof and cor-
rection, choose your own way, and will not be disciplined, God has
no further use for you in connection with His holy work. If you had
commenced the work of setting your own soul right with the Lord you
would have seen so great a work to be done for yourself that you would
not have spent so much time over the supposed wrongs of Brother
H, dwelling upon them behind his back. The work of the last thirty
years should inspire confidence in the integrity of Brother H. “Honor
to whom honor is due.”
Men in responsible positions should improve continually. They
must not anchor upon an old experience and feel that it is not necessary
to become scientific workers. Man, although the most helpless of
God’s creatures when he comes into the world, and the most perverse
in his nature, is nevertheless capable of constant advancement. He may
be enlightened by science, ennobled by virtue, and may progress in
mental and moral dignity, until he reaches a perfection of intelligence
and a purity of character but little lower than the perfection and purity
of angels. With the light of truth shining upon the minds of men, and
the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, we cannot conceive what
they may become nor what great work they may do.
I know that the human heart is blind to its own true condition, but
I cannot leave you without making an effort to help you. We love you,
and we want to see you pressing on to victory. Jesus loves you. He
died for you, and He wants you to be saved. We have no disposition
to hold you in-----; but we do want you to make thorough work with
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your own soul, to right every wrong there, and make every effort to