Agents of Satan
127
their apparently flourishing branches in the very face of the Almighty,
yet bear no fruit to the glory of God? Many of them cherish impure
thoughts, unholy imaginations, unsanctified desires, and base passions.
God hates the fruit borne upon such a tree. Angels, pure and holy, look
upon the course of such with abhorrence, while Satan exults. Oh, that
men and women would consider what is to be gained by transgressing
God’s law! Under any and every circumstance, transgression is a
dishonor to God and a curse to man. We must regard it thus, however
fair its guise, and by whomsoever committed.
As Christ’s ambassador, I entreat you who profess present truth
to promptly resent any approach to impurity and forsake the society
of those who breathe an impure suggestion. Loathe these defiling
sins with the most intense hatred. Flee from those who would, even
in conversation, let the mind run in such a channel; “for out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
As those who practice these defiling sins are steadily increasing in
the world and would intrude themselves into our churches, I warn you
to give no place to them. Turn from the seducer. Though a professed
follower of Christ, he is Satan in the form of man; he has borrowed the
livery of heaven that he may the better serve his master. You should not
for one moment give place to an impure, covert suggestion; for even
[147]
this will stain the soul, as impure water defiles the channel through
which it passes.
Choose poverty, reproach, separation from friends, or any suffering
rather than to defile the soul with sin. Death before dishonor or the
transgression of God’s law should be the motto of every Christian.
As a people professing to be reformers, treasuring the most solemn,
purifying truths of God’s word, we must elevate the standard far higher
than it is at the present time. Sin and sinners in the church must be
promptly dealt with, that others may not be contaminated. Truth and
purity require that we make more thorough work to cleanse the camp
from Achans. Let those in responsible positions not suffer sin in a
brother. Show him that he must either put away his sins or be separated
from the church.
When the individual members of the church shall act as true fol-
lowers of the meek and lowly Saviour, there will be less covering up
and excusing of sin. All will strive to act as if in God’s presence.
They will realize that His all-seeing eye is ever upon them and that the