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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
The children of the light and of the day are not to gather about
them the shades of night and darkness which encompass the workers
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of iniquity. On the contrary, they are to stand faithfully at their post
of duty as light bearers, gathering light from God to shed upon those
in darkness. The Lord requires His people to maintain their integrity,
touching not—that is, imitating not—the practices of the ungodly.
Christians will be in this world “an holy nation, a peculiar people,”
showing forth the praises of Him who hath called them “out of darkness
into His marvelous light.” This light is not to grow dim, but to shine
brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. Christ’s standard-bearers
are never to be off duty. They have a vigilant foe who is waiting and
watching to take the fort. Some of Christ’s professed watchmen have
invited the enemy into their stronghold, have mingled with them, and
in their efforts to please have broken down the distinction between the
children of God and the children of Satan.
The Lord never designed that our college should imitate other
institutions of learning. The religious element should be the controlling
power. If unbelievers choose this influence, it is well; if those who are
in darkness choose to come to the light, it is as God would have it. But
to relax our vigilance, and let the worldly element take the lead in order
to secure students, is contrary to the will of God. The strength of our
college is in keeping the religious element in the ascendancy. When
teachers or professors shall sacrifice religious principle to please a
worldly, amusement-loving class, they should be considered unfaithful
to their trust and should be discharged.
The thrilling truth that has been sounding in our ears for many
years, “The Lord is at hand; be ye also ready,” is no less the truth
today than when we first heard the message. The dearest interests of
the church and people of God, and the destiny of an impenitent and
ungodly world, for time and for eternity, are here involved. We are all
judgment bound. “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and
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remain [unto the coming of the Lord] shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever
be with the Lord.” Christ will then be revealed from heaven, “taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel.”