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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
only commenced. They must then carry out what they have preached.
They should not move heedlessly, but set a watch over themselves, lest
something that they may do and say may be taken advantage of by the
enemy, and a reproach be brought upon the cause of Christ.
Ministers cannot be too guarded, especially before the young. They
should use no lightness of speech, no jesting or joking, but should
remember that they are in Christ’s stead, and that they must illustrate
by example the life of Christ. “For we are laborers together with
God.” “We then as workers together with him, beseech you also that
ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”
I was shown that the usefulness of young ministers, married or
unmarried, is often destroyed by attachment shown to them by young
females. They do not realize that other eyes are upon them, and that
the course pursued by them may have a tendency to very much injure
the influence of the minister they give so much attention. If they would
strictly regard the rules of propriety, it would be much better for them,
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and much better for their ministers. It places him in a disagreeable
position, and causes others to look upon him in a wrong light. Yet I
saw that the burden of the matter rests upon the ministers. They should
show a distaste to these things, and if they take the course God would
have them, they will not be troubled long. It is their duty to cut off
every appearance of evil, and when young females are very sociable, it
is their duty to let them know such things are not pleasing. They must
repulse this forwardness, even if they are thought to be rude. Such
things need a rebuke, in order to save the cause from being brought
into disrepute. If young females are converted to the truth, and to God,
they can bear this, and will be reformed.
Ministers should follow up their public labors by private efforts,
laboring personally for souls, whenever an opportunity presents, con-
versing around the fireside, beseeching and entreating souls to seek
for those things which make for their peace. Our work here is soon
to close, and every man will receive his own reward according to his
own labor.
I was shown the saints’ reward, the immortal inheritance, and saw
that those who had endured the most for the truth’s sake will not think
they have had a hard time, but will count Heaven cheap enough.