Chapter 41—The Manufacture of Wine and Cider
Dear Brethren and Sisters of the Church at-----,
I have been shown that as a church you are not growing in grace
and in the knowledge of the truth. There is not that consecration to
God, that devotion to His service, and that disinterested labor for the
upbuilding of His cause which would make you a prosperous and
healthy church. You are not subject one to another. There are too
many among you who have their own ideas to maintain and their own
selfish plans to carry out, and some who occupy prominent places in
the church are of this number.
Brother K has not an eye single to the glory of God; he does not
view things from a right standpoint. He is giving heed to suggestions
of Satan and taking counsel of his own unsanctified judgment, and
he grasps at every word that can be framed into a justification of his
wrong course. He is self-deceived; he does not see that he is shutting
himself away from the Spirit of God. When he entered upon this path
he did not know its dangers nor realize where it would lead him. All
who are walking in the same way would do well to turn their feet at
once into the path of safety.
We are living in an age of intemperance, and catering to the appetite
of the cider bibber is an offense against God. With others you have
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engaged in this work because you have not followed the light. Had
you stood in the light, you would not, you could not, have done this.
Every one of you who has acted a part in this work will come under
the condemnation of God unless you make an entire change in your
business. You need to be in earnest. You need to commence the work
at once to clear your souls from condemnation.
Some of you in-----developed wonderful zeal in denouncing the
red-ribbon clubs. So far as you were actuated by a desire to condemn
the evil in these societies, you were right; but when you acted as
though it were a crime to speak at all in their favor, or to show them
the least good will, you carried matters to extremes. You should be
consistent in all things. You have cherished a hatred for the very name
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