“The Appearance of Evil”
535
same reason that they spoke evil of Christ—because they hated the
purity and holiness of His character, for it was a constant rebuke to
them.”
[596]
I wish I could impress upon every worker in God’s cause the great
need of continual, earnest prayer. They cannot be constantly upon their
knees, but they can be uplifting their hearts to God. This is the way
that Enoch walked with God. Be careful lest self-sufficiency come in
and you drop Jesus out and work in your own strength rather than in
the spirit and strength of the Master. Do not waste golden moments in
frivolous conversation. When you return from doing missionary work,
do not praise yourself, but exalt Jesus; lift up the cross of Calvary.
Allow no one to praise or flatter you, or to cling to your hand as if
loath to let it go. Be afraid of every such demonstration. When young
or even married persons show a disposition to open their family secrets
to you, beware. When they express a desire for sympathy, know that
it is time to exercise great caution. Those who are imbued with the
Spirit of Christ and who are walking with God will have no unholy
pining for sympathy. They have a companionship that satisfies every
desire of the mind and heart. Married men who accept the attention,
the praise and petting, of women should be assured that the love and
sympathy of this class are not worth the obtaining.
Women are too often tempters. On one pretense or another they
engage the attention of men, married or unmarried, and lead them on
till they transgress the law of God, till their usefulness is ruined, and
their souls are in jeopardy. The history of Joseph is left on record
for the benefit of all who, like him, are tempted. In principle he was
firm as a rock, and he answered the tempter: “How then can I do
this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Moral power like his
is what is needed now. If women would only elevate their lives and
become workers with Christ, there would be less danger through their
influence; but with their present feelings of unconcern in regard to
home responsibilities and in regard to the claims that God has upon
them, their influence is often strong in the wrong direction, their
powers are dwarfed, and their work does not bear the divine impress.
[597]
They are not home missionaries, neither are they missionaries away
from home; and frequently home, precious home, is left to desolation.
Let everyone who professes Christ seek to overcome all unman-
liness, all weakness and folly. Some men never grow up to the full