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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
they had found out some wonderful mystery, which had been hid from
believers and the holy in every age of the world, cast their midnight
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darkness into other minds. They lose the relish they have had for the
truth, and come out infidels. All this is the work of a few words spoken,
which had a hidden power, because they seemed involved in mystery.
This is the work of a cunning Devil. Those who are troubled with
doubts, and have difficulties which they cannot solve, should not throw
other weak minds into the same perplexity. Some have hinted, or
have talked their unbelief, and have passed on little dreaming of the
effect produced. The seeds of unbelief, in some instances, have taken
immediate effect, and in some cases have lain buried quite a length
of time, until the individuals take a wrong course, and give place to
the enemy, and the light of God is withdrawn from them, and they fall
under the powerful temptations of Satan. Then the seeds of infidelity
spring up, which were sown so long ago. Satan nourishes them, and
they bear fruit. Anything coming from ministers, who should stand in
the light, has a powerful influence. And when they have not stood in
the clear light of God, Satan has used them as agents, and has through
them transmitted his fiery darts to minds not prepared to resist what
has come from their ministers.
I saw that ministers, as well as people, have a warfare before them,
to resist the Devil. It is a cruel position for ministering brethren to be
in, serving the purposes of Satan, by listening to his whisperings, and
letting him captivate their minds and guide their thoughts. And their
most grievous sin in the sight of God is, their talking out their unbelief,
and drawing other minds into the same dark channel, thus suffering
Satan to carry out a two-fold purpose in tempting them. He unsettles
the mind of one whose course has encouraged his temptations, and
then leads that one to unsettle the minds of many.
I saw that it was time that the watchmen upon the walls of Zion
understood the responsibility and sacredness of their mission. They
should feel that a woe is upon them if they do not perform the work
God has committed to them. If they become unfaithful, they are
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endangering the safety of the flock of God, endangering the cause
of truth, and exposing it to the ridicule of our enemies. Oh, what a
work is this! It will surely meet its reward. Some ministers, as well as
people, need converting. They need to be torn to pieces and made over
new. Their work among the churches is worse than lost, and it would