“The Appearance of Evil”
539
acter and savors of a dissatisfied reaching out after human sympathy
and appreciation, it springs from lovesick sentimentalism, and neither
the youth nor the men with gray hairs are secure. When the truth of
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God is an abiding principle in the heart, it will be like a living spring.
Attempts may be made to repress it, but it will gush forth in another
place; it is there and cannot be repressed. The truth in the heart is a
wellspring of life. It refreshes the weary and restrains vile thought and
utterance.
Is there not enough taking place about us to show us the dan-
gers that beset our path? Everywhere are seen wrecks of humanity,
neglected family altars, broken-up families. There is a strange aban-
donment of principle, a lowering of the standard of morality; the sins
are fast increasing which caused the judgments of God to be poured
upon the earth in the Flood and in the destruction of Sodom by fire.
We are nearing the end. God has borne long with the perversity of
mankind, but their punishment is no less certain. Let those who profess
to be the light of the world depart from all iniquity. We see the very
same spirit manifested against the truth that was seen in Christ’s day.
For want of Bible arguments, those who are making void the law of
God will manufacture falsehoods to stain and blacken the workers.
They did this to the world’s Redeemer; they will do it to His followers.
Reports that have not the least foundation will be asserted as truth.
God has blessed His commandment-keeping people and all the
opposition and falsehoods that may be brought against them will only
strengthen those who stand firm in defense of the faith once delivered
to the saints. But if those who profess to be the depositaries of God’s
law become transgressors of that law, His protecting care will be
withdrawn, and many will fall through perverseness and licentiousness.
Then we shall indeed be unable to stand before our enemies. But if His
people remain separate and distinct from the world, as a nation that
do righteousness, God will be their defense, and no weapons formed
against them shall prosper.
In view of the dangers of this time shall not we, as God’s
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commandment-keeping people, put away from among us all sin, all
iniquity, all perverseness? Shall not the women professing the truth
keep strict guard over themselves, lest the least encouragement be
given to unwarrantable familiarity? They may close many a door of
temptation if they will observe at all times strict reserve and propriety