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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
have put far off the appearing of our Lord, commence now the work
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of redeeming the time. Study the word of God. Let all at this meeting
make a covenant with God to put away light and trifling conversation
and frivolous, unimportant reading, and, for the coming year, diligently
and prayerfully study the Bible, that you may be able to give to every
man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is within you, with
meekness and fear. Will you not, without delay, humble your hearts
before God and repent of your backslidings?
Let none entertain the thought that I regret or take back any plain
testimony I have borne to individuals or to the people. If I have erred
anywhere, it is in not rebuking sin more decidedly and firmly. Some of
the brethren have taken the responsibility of criticizing my work and
proposing an easier way to correct wrongs. To these persons I would
say: I take God’s way and not yours. What I have said or written in
testimony or reproof has not been too plainly expressed.
God has given me my work, and I must meet it at the judgment.
Those who have chosen their own way, who have risen up against the
plain testimonies given them, and have sought to shake the faith of
others in them, must settle the matter with God. I take back nothing. I
soften nothing to suit their ideas or to excuse their defects of character.
I have not spoken as plainly as the case required. Those who would in
any way lessen the force of the sharp reproofs which God has given
me to speak, must meet their work at the judgment.
Within a few weeks past, standing face to face with death, I have
had a near look into eternity. If the Lord is pleased to raise me from
my present state of feebleness, I hope, in the grace and strength that
comes from above, to speak with fidelity the words which He gives
me to speak. All through my life it has been terribly hard for me to
hurt the feelings of any, or disturb their self-deception, as I deliver the
testimonies given me of God. It is contrary to my nature. It costs me
great pain and many sleepless nights. To those who have taken the
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responsibility to reprove me and, in their finite judgment, to propose a
way which appears wiser to them, I repeat: I do not accept your efforts.
Leave me with God, and let Him teach me. I will take the words from
the Lord and speak them to the people. I do not expect that all will
accept the reproof and reform their lives, but I must discharge my duty
all the same. I will walk in humility before God, doing my work for
time and for eternity.