Nature and Influence of the “Testimonies”
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God’s people would recognize His dealings with them and accept His
teachings, they would find a straight path for their feet and a light to
guide them through darkness and discouragement.” [
Testimonies for
the Church 4:14, 15
(1876).]
“Warnings and reproofs are not given to the erring among Seventh-
day Adventists because their lives are more blameworthy than are the
lives of professed Christians of the nominal churches, nor because their
example of their acts are worse than those of the Adventists who will
not yield obedience to the claims of God’s law, but because they have
great light, and have by their profession taken their position as God’s
special, chosen people, having the law of God written in their hearts.
[662]
They signify their loyalty to the God of heaven by yielding obedience
to the laws of His government. They are God’s representatives upon
the earth. Any sin in them separates them from God and, in a special
manner, dishonors His name by giving the enemies of His holy law
occasion to reproach His cause and His people, whom He has called
‘a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people,’ that they should show forth the praises of Him that hath called
them out of darkness into His marvelous light....
“The Lord reproves and corrects the people who profess to keep
His law. He points out their sins and lays open their iniquity because
He wishes to separate all sin and wickedness from them, that they may
perfect holiness in His fear.... God rebukes, reproves, and corrects
them, that they may be refined, sanctified, elevated, and finally exalted
to His own throne.” [
Testimonies for the Church 2:452, 453
(1870).]
“I have been looking over the Testimonies given for Sabbathkeepers
and I am astonished at the mercy of God and His care for His people
in giving them so many warnings, pointing out their dangers, and
presenting before them the exalted position which He would have
them occupy. If they would keep themselves in His love and separate
from the world, He would cause His special blessings to rest upon
them and His light to shine round about them. Their influence for
good might be felt in every branch of the work and in every part of the
gospel field. But if they fail to meet the mind of God, if they continue
to have so little sense of the exalted character of the work as they have
had in the past, their influence and example will prove a terrible curse.
They will do harm and only harm. The blood of precious souls will be
found upon their garments.