204
Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
vigilant in this hour of peril are neglecting their duty and bringing
upon themselves the blood of souls.
My brethren, beware of the evil heart of unbelief. The word of
God is plain and close in its restrictions; it interferes with your selfish
indulgence; therefore you do not obey it. The testimonies of His
Spirit call your attention to the Scriptures, point out your defects of
character, and rebuke your sins; therefore you do not heed them. And
to justify your carnal, ease-loving course you begin to doubt whether
the testimonies are from God. If you would obey their teachings you
would be assured of their divine origin. Remember, your unbelief
does not affect their truthfulness. If they are from God they will stand.
Those who seek to lessen the faith of God’s people in these testimonies,
which have been in the church for the last thirty-six years, are fighting
against God. It is not the instrument whom you slight and insult, but
[235]
God, who has spoken to you in these warnings and reproofs.
In the instruction given by our Saviour to His disciples are words of
admonition especially applicable to us: “Take heed to yourselves, lest
at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunken-
ness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
Watch, pray, work—this is the true life of faith. “Pray always;” that
is, be ever in the spirit of prayer, and then you will be in readiness for
your Lord’s coming.
The watchmen are responsible for the condition of the people.
While you open the door to pride, envy, doubt, and other sins, there
will be strife, hatred, and every evil work. Jesus, the meek and lowly
One, asks an entrance as your guest; but you are afraid to bid Him enter.
He has spoken to us in both the Old and the New Testament; He is
speaking to us still by His Spirit and His providences. His instructions
are designed to make men true to God and true to themselves.
Jesus took upon Himself man’s nature, that He might leave a
pattern for humanity, complete, perfect. He proposes to make us
like Himself, true in every purpose, feeling, and thought—true in
heart, soul, and life. This is Christianity. Our fallen nature must be
purified, ennobled, consecrated by obedience to the truth. Christian
faith will never harmonize with worldly principles; Christian integrity
is opposed to all deception and pretense. The man who cherishes the
most of Christ’s love in the soul, who reflects the Saviour’s image most