Slackness Reproved
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plans. It is time that something was done. God is not pleased to have
his people leave the matters of the church at loose ends, and suffer the
enemy to have the whole advantage, and control affairs as best pleases
him.
And while God’s people are justified in a lawful manner to secure
church property, they should be careful to maintain their peculiar and
holy character. I saw that unconsecrated persons would take advantage
of the position the church have recently taken, and will overstep the
bounds, carry matters to extremes, and wound the cause of God. Some
will move without wisdom or judgment, and engage in lawsuits that
might be avoided, mingle with the world, partake of their spirit, and
influence others to follow their example. One professed Christian who
moves unadvisedly, does much harm to the cause of present truth. Evil
takes root much more readily than good, and flourishes when good
and right languish, unless they are carefully nourished.
I was pointed back and saw that in every important move, every
decision made, or point gained, by God’s people, there have been
those who have arisen to carry matters to extremes, and to move in an
extravagant manner, which has disgusted unbelievers and distressed
God’s people, and brought the cause of God into disrepute. The people
whom God is leading out in these last days, will be troubled with
just such things. But much evil will be avoided if the ministers of
Christ will be of one mind, unite in effort, unite in their plans of
action, sustain each other, stand together, and be faithful to reprove
and rebuke wrong, which will soon cause it to wither. But Satan
has controlled these matters very much. Private members, and even
[47]
preachers, have sympathized with disaffected ones who have been
reproved for their wrongs, and division of feeling has been the result.
The one who has ventured out and faithfully met error and wrong,
and discharged his disagreeable duty, is grieved and wounded that
he receives not the fullest sympathy of his preaching brethren. He
becomes discouraged in discharging such painful duties, lays down
the cross and withholds the pointed testimony. His soul is shut up in
darkness, and the church suffer for the lack of the very testimony God
designed should live in the church. Satan’s object is gained when the
faithful testimony is suppressed. Those who so readily sympathize
with the wrong, consider it a virtue, but they realize not that they are