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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
the workers of evil remember that to all their acts there is one witness,
a holy, sin-hating God. He will bring all their works into judgment,
with every secret thing.
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,
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and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for
his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself.” As Christ
has pitied and helped us in our weakness and sinfulness, so should
we pity and help others. Many are perplexed with doubt, burdened
with infirmities, weak in faith, and unable to grasp the unseen; but a
friend whom they can see, coming to them in Christ’s stead, can be as
a connecting link to fasten their trembling faith upon God. Oh, this is
a blessed work! Let not pride and selfishness prevent us from doing
the good which we may do if we will work in Christ’s name and with
a loving, tender spirit.
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself,
lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ.” Here, again, our duty is plainly set before
us. How can the professed followers of Christ so lightly regard these
inspired injunctions? Not long since I received a letter describing a
circumstance in which a brother had manifested indiscretion. Although
it occurred years ago, and was a very small matter, hardly worthy of
a second thought, the writer stated that it had forever destroyed her
confidence in that brother. If that sister’s life should show upon review
no greater errors, it would be indeed a marvel, for human nature is very
weak. I have been and am still fellowshiping as brethren and sisters
those who have been guilty of grave sins and who even now do not see
their sins as God sees them. But the Lord bears with these persons,
and why should not I? He will yet cause His Spirit so to impress their
hearts that sin will appear to them as it appeared to Paul, exceedingly
sinful.
We know but little of our own hearts and have but little sense of
our own need of the mercy of God. This is why we cherish so little
of that sweet compassion which Jesus manifests toward us and which
we should manifest toward one another. We should remember that
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our brethren are weak, erring mortals like ourselves. Suppose that
a brother has through unwatchfulness been overborne by temptation
and contrary to his general conduct has committed some error, what