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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
see that he has made a great mistake, that he has been losing precious,
golden moments which he might have employed in purifying his own
heart. He has been picking flaws in others, living on their mistakes;
and this is spiritual starvation. Every revival is liable to bring persons
into the church who are not really converted. They hold the truth
nominally, but are not sanctified by its sweet influence. Being destitute
of grace, they are selfish, hard, and unyielding. Such persons are
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always unreliable. They will ever be doing and saying things contrary
to our faith. The church that has such a burden inflicted upon it
deserves pity. The world is in opposition to the church, and Satan
and his angels are constantly at war with it. Therefore the defects of
these unworthy members are held up before those who are sound in
the faith.
Those who believe the truth should be determined to help and not
to hinder the few in-----who are struggling under discouragements.
The members of the church should each have a jealous care that the
enemies of our faith have no occasion to triumph over their lifeless,
backslidden state. Some have wasted their influence, when with a little
self-denial, earnestness, and zeal, they might have been a power on the
side of good. This zeal will not come without effort, without earnest
struggles. If only three faithful souls were left in the-----church, they
would, if connected with God, be living channels of light, and He
would add to their numbers. God has raised up standard-bearers in----
-. Some have moved away, some have died, and some have become
spiritually dead; their services are given to Satan. They do not realize
that a by-and-by is coming when their account in the heavenly records
will be balanced and when every man’s work will be revealed of what
sort it is.
Remember that everyone must be judged according to his work.
When, in the great day of final reckoning, the record of your life shall
be opened before you, my doubting, questioning, accusing brother,
how will it stand? “Your words have been stout against Me, saith the
Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against Thee? Ye
have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept
His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord
of hosts?” This has been the language of your heart; and “out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” By your words you are
to be justified or condemned. Accusing the brethren is the very work