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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
Those who laud and flatter the minister, while they neglect the
works of righteousness, give unmistakable evidence that they are con-
verted to the minister and not to God. We inquire: “Who hath warned
you to flee from the wrath to come?” Was it the voice of the Holy
Spirit or merely the voice of man which you heard in the message sent
from God? The fruit borne will testify to the character of the tree.
No outward forms can make us clean; no ordinance, administered
by the saintliest of men, can take the place of the baptism of the Holy
Ghost. The Spirit of God must do its work upon the heart. All who
have not experienced its regenerating power are chaff among the wheat.
Our Lord has His fan in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His
floor. In the coming day He will discern “between him that serveth
God and him that serveth Him not.”
The spirit of Christ will be revealed in all who are born of God.
Strife and contention cannot arise among those who are controlled by
His Spirit. “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” The church
will rarely take a higher stand than is taken by her ministers. We need
a converted ministry and a converted people. Shepherds who watch
for souls as they that must give account will lead the flock on in paths
of peace and holiness. Their success in this work will be in proportion
to their own growth in grace and knowledge of the truth. When the
teachers are sanctified, soul, body, and spirit, they can impress upon
the people the importance of such sanctification.
To talk of religious things in a casual way, to pray for spiritual
blessings without real soul hunger and living faith, avails little. The
wondering crowd that pressed close about Christ realized no vital
power from the contact. But when the poor, suffering woman, in
her great need, put forth her hand and touched the hem of Jesus’
garment, she felt the healing virtue. Hers was the touch of faith. Christ
recognized that touch, and He determined there to give a lesson for all
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His followers to the close of time. He knew that virtue had gone out
of Him, and turning about in the throng He said: “Who touched My
clothes?” Surprised at such a question His disciples answered: “Thou
seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest thou, Who touched
Me?”
Jesus fixed His eyes upon her who had done this. She was filled
with fear. Great joy was hers, but had she overstepped her duty?
Knowing what was done in her, she came trembling and fell at His