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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
unsocial, too plain in our dress, and too strict in regard to amusements,
withdrawing ourselves from them too much in practice as well as in
precept. You have thought that if we would be less exclusive and
would mingle more with the world, their opinions and impressions of
us would be greatly modified. But no greater mistake could affect the
human mind. Said Christ: “If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen
you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the
word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If
they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have
kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will
they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that
sent Me.”
These are the words of One of whom even His enemies were forced
to admit: “Never man spake like this Man.” The words of men express
their own human thoughts; but those of Christ are spirit and life. “If
ye continue in My word,” He says, “then are ye My disciples indeed.”
“He that is of God heareth God’s words,” but these divine utterances
find no place in the heart of one who is of the world and loves its
pleasures.
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God has given us specific directions so that no one need err. “Man
shall not live by bread alone,” He says, “but by every word that pro-
ceedeth out of the mouth of God.” The truth given by inspiration “is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness.” Not by one word, not by many words, but by every
word that God has spoken, shall man live. You cannot disregard one
word, a single injunction that He has given, however trifling it may
seem to you, and be safe. “Whosoever therefore shall break one of
these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called
the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach
them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Whoso-
ever will willfully break one command cannot in spirit and in truth
keep any of them. He may claim that, with the exception of what he
may regard as slight deviations, he keeps them all; yet if he willingly
offends in one point he is guilty of all.
Brother and Sister P, while you have been making a profession
of Christianity you have been keeping back part of the price. You
have robbed God of thought and devotion; you have robbed Him of