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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
might be restored, rebeautified, reconstructed from its ruins, and made
fit for the presence of God.
We should show our faith by our works. A greater anxiety should
be manifested to have a large measure of the spirit of Christ; for in this
will be the strength of the church. It is Satan who is striving to have
God’s children draw apart. Love, oh, how little love we have—love
for God and for one another! The word and spirit of truth, dwelling in
our hearts, will separate us from the world. The immutable principles
of truth and love will bind heart to heart, and the strength of the union
will be according to the measure of grace and truth enjoyed. Well
would it be for us each to hold up the mirror, God’s royal law, and
see in it the reflection of His own character. Let us be careful not to
neglect the danger signals and the warnings given in His word. Unless
heed is given to these warnings, and defects of character are overcome,
these defects will overcome those who possess them, and they will
fall into error, apostasy, and open sin. The mind that is not elevated
to the highest standard will in time lose its power to retain that which
it had once gained. “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
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of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
God has selected a people in these last days whom He has made
the depositaries of His law, and this people will ever have disagreeable
tasks to perform. “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience,
and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried
them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them
liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name’s sake hast
labored, and hast not fainted.” It will require much diligence and a
continual struggle to keep evil out of our churches. There must be
rigid, impartial discipline exercised; for some who have a semblance
of religion will seek to undermine the faith of others and will privily
work to exalt themselves.
The Lord Jesus, on the Mount of Olives, plainly stated that “be-
cause iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” He
speaks of a class who have fallen from a high state of spirituality. Let
such utterances as these come home with solemn, searching power to
our hearts. Where is the fervor, the devotion to God, that corresponds