Warnings and Reproofs
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lose their identity in Jesus Christ. To be great in God’s kingdom is
to be a little child in humility, in simplicity of faith, and in the purity
of love. All pride must perish, all jealousy be overcome, all ambition
for supremacy be given up, and the meekness and trust of the child
be encouraged. All such will find Christ their rock of defense, their
strong tower. In Him they may trust implicitly, and He will never fail
them.
Oh, that all who believe present truth would be warned to seek the
Lord. The thoughts of God’s infinite mercy and of His matchless love
should influence all to imitate His example. But this is not the case.
Some of our sisters indulge too freely in a love for dress and display;
they do not dress at all in harmony with our holy faith. This is true of
Sister-----. The world should have a better example than this sister has
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given it. She should feel her God-given responsibility to cast the entire
weight of her influence upon the side of Christ and seek to make those
with whom she associates less worldly. She and Sister-----would be of
far greater advantage to the church if they would encourage plainness
of dress in themselves and others. Those sisters who are dressmakers
and who study the fashion plates frequently lead others in the church
to do that which is displeasing to God by encouraging them to cut and
trim their dresses in imitation of the world. The efforts of these sisters
to do good would be far more acceptable to God were there seen in
their lives less dressing, less cheap, worldly talking, and less visiting;
less complaining and murmuring against the ministers laboring for
you, and more praying and reading of the Bible.
The Lord is displeased with the course pursued by many in the
church toward some of their ministering brethren. He bids you cease
your cruel speeches and let words of encouragement take the place of
your murmuring, your repining, your faultfinding. Christ is speaking
to you in the person of His saints, and you have despised His counsel
and rejected His reproof. Do this no longer. Elder-----has a work to
do, not only in the East, but in many places. God will be with him and
prosper him if he hides in Jesus. He is not infallible; he may at times
err in judgment. But be careful how you speak that which will make
of none effect the words God bids him utter.
When he knows what the will of God is, he would not hesitate to
do it should it cost him his life. While many of you plan only how
you can please self and have an easy life, his whole life and interest