Church the Light of the World
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reason why there is no more spirituality in our churches? It is because
you are not colaborers with Christ.
God has given to every man his work. Let us each wait on God, and
He will teach us how to work and what work we are best adapted to
perform. Yet none are to start out in an independent spirit to promulgate
new theories. The workers should be in harmony with the truth and
with their brethren. There should be counsel and co-operation. But
they are not to feel that at every step they must wait to ask some higher
officer if they may do this or that. Look not to man for guidance, but
to the God of Israel.
The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and
prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discourag-
ing, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity
has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition
from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative
class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work,
will renounce the faith and take their stand with its avowed enemies,
toward whom their sympathies have long been tending. These apos-
tates will then manifest the most bitter enmity, doing all in their power
to oppress and malign their former brethren and to excite indigna-
tion against them. This day is just before us. The members of the
church will individually be tested and proved. They will be placed
in circumstances where they will be forced to bear witness for the
truth. Many will be called to speak before councils and in courts of
justice, perhaps separately and alone. The experience which would
have helped them in this emergency they have neglected to obtain, and
their souls are burdened with remorse for wasted opportunities and
neglected privileges.
My brother, my sister, ponder these things, I beseech you. You
have each a work to do. Your unfaithfulness and neglect are registered
against you in the Ledger of Heaven. You have diminished your powers
and lessened your capabilities. You lack the experience and efficiency
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which you might have had. But before it is forever too late, I urge you
to arouse. Delay no longer. The day is almost spent. The westering
sun is about sinking forever from your sight. Yet while the blood of
Christ is pleading, you may find pardon. Summon every energy of the
soul, employ the few remaining hours in earnest labor for God and for
your fellow men.