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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
than gold. All should learn that this is a part of the discipline in the
school of Christ, which is essential to purify and refine them from the
dross of earthliness. They must endure with fortitude the taunts and
attacks of enemies, and overcome all obstacles that Satan may place
in their path to hedge up the way. He will try to lead them to neglect
prayer and to discourage them in the study of the Scriptures, and he
will throw his hateful shadow athwart their path to hide Christ and the
heavenly attractions from their view.
None should go along shrinking and trembling, under continual
doubt, sowing their path with complainings; but all should look up to
God and see His goodness and rejoice in His love. Summon all your
powers to look up, not down at your difficulties; then you will never
faint by the way. You will soon see Jesus behind the cloud, reaching
out His hand to help you; and all you have to do is to give Him your
hand in simple faith and let Him lead you. As you become trustful you
will, through faith in Jesus, become hopeful. The light shining from
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the cross of Calvary will reveal to you God’s estimate of the soul, and,
appreciating that estimate, you will seek to reflect the light to the world.
A great name among men is as letters traced in sand, but a spotless
character will endure to all eternity. God gives you intelligence and a
reasoning mind, whereby you may grasp His promises; and Jesus is
ready to help you in forming a strong, symmetrical character. Those
who possess such a character need never become discouraged because
they have not success in worldly affairs. They “are the light of the
world.” Satan cannot destroy or make of none effect the light that
shines forth from them.
God has a work for each to do. It is no part of His plan that souls
shall be sustained in the battle of life by human sympathy and praise;
but He means that they shall go without the camp, bearing the reproach,
fighting the good fight of faith, and standing in His strength under every
difficulty. God has opened to us all the treasures of heaven through
the precious gift of His Son, who is fully able to uplift, ennoble, and
fit us, through His perfection of character, for usefulness in this life
and for a holy heaven. He came to our world and lived as He requires
His followers to live. His was a life of self-denial and constant self-
sacrifice. If we encourage selfishness and ease and the gratification
of inclination, and do not put forth our best efforts to co-operate with
God in the wonderful work of elevating, ennobling, and purifying