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influence into the church to discourage rather than to strengthen and
build up.
That these elements are in Healdsburg as well as in other places
none will deny; and if Satan did not use them, he would use some other
influence to the same end. But “woe to that man by whom the offense
cometh;” for it were “better for him that a millstone were hanged
about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” God has His means of
working. Men cannot always discern them, and by attaching so much
importance to their own efforts they not only give the Lord no room
to work, but are found working against Him. “Let him that thinketh
he standeth take heed lest he fall.” “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye
know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with
the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
We are nearing the end of time. Trials will be abundant from
without, but let them not come from within the church. Let God’s
professed people deny self for the truth’s sake, for Christ’s sake. “For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone
may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.” Everyone who truly loves God will
have the spirit of Christ and a fervent love for his brethren. The more a
person’s heart is in communion with God, and the more his affections
are centered in Christ, the less will he be disturbed by the roughness
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and hardships he meets in this life. Those who are growing up to the
full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus, will become more and
more like Christ in character, rising above the disposition to murmur
and be discontented. They will despise to be faultfinders.
The church at this time should have the faith once delivered to the
saints, which will enable them to say boldly: “God is mine helper;” “I
can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The Lord
bids us arise and go forward. Whenever the church at any period
have forsaken their sins, and believed and walked in the truth, they
have been honored of God. There is in faith and humble obedience a
power that the world cannot withstand. The order of God’s providence
in relation to His people is progression—continual advancement in
the perfection of Christian character, in the way of holiness, rising
higher and higher in the clear light and knowledge and love of God,