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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
decrease. He that cometh from above is above all.” “He that hath
received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.”
It is such workers that are needed in the cause of God today. The
self-sufficient, the envious and jealous, the critical and faultfinding,
can well be spared from His sacred work. They should not be tolerated
in the ministry, even though they may apparently have accomplished
some good. God is not straitened for men or means. He calls for
workers who are true and faithful, pure and holy; for those who have
felt their need of the atoning blood of Christ and the sanctifying grace
of His Spirit.
My brethren, God is grieved with your envying and jealousies, your
bitterness and dissension. In all these things you are yielding obedience
to Satan and not to Christ. When we see men firm in principle, fearless
in duty, zealous in the cause of God, yet humble and lowly, gentle
and tender, patient toward all, ready to forgive, manifesting love for
souls for whom Christ died, we do not need to inquire: Are they
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Christians? They give unmistakable evidence that they have been with
Jesus and learned of Him. When men reveal the opposite traits, when
they are proud, vain, frivolous, worldly-minded, avaricious, unkind,
censorious, we need not be told with whom they are associating, who
is their most intimate friend. They may not believe in witchcraft; but,
notwithstanding this, they are holding communion with an evil spirit.
To this class I would say: “Glory not, and lie not against the
truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and
every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
When the Pharisees and Sadducees flocked to the baptism of John,
that fearless preacher of righteousness addressed them: “O generation
of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring
forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” These men were actuated
by unworthy motives in coming to John. They were men of poisonous
principles and corrupt practices. Yet they had no sense of their true
condition. Filled with pride and ambition, they would not hesitate at
any means to exalt themselves and strengthen their influence with the