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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
win these students to Jesus. If they are naturally combative, let them
carefully guard against the indulgence of this trait. Those who have
passed the critical period of youth should never forget the temptations
and trials of early life and how much they wanted sympathy, kindness,
and love.
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He who devotes himself to arduous public labor in the cause of
humanity often finds little time to devote to his own family and, in
one sense, is left almost without a family and without fireside, social
influences. It has been thus with Brother-----. His mind has been
constantly taxed. He had little opportunity to win the affections of his
children or to give them needed restraint and guidance.
There are many in the college who need a thorough conversion. Let
none seek to discern the mote that is in their brother’s eye, when they
have a beam in their own eye. Each should cleanse his own soul-temple
from its defilement. Let envy and jealousy go with the accumulated
rubbish. Exalted privileges and heavenly attainments, purchased for us
at an immense cost, are freely presented for our acceptance. God holds
us individually accountable for the measure of light and privileges He
has given us. And if we refuse to render unto God the improvement of
the talents committed to our trust we forfeit His favor.
Professor-----would have served you well had he not been flattered
by some and condemned by others. He became confused. He had
traits of character that needed to be suppressed. In their enthusiasm
some have given him undue confidence and praise. You have placed
the man where it will be difficult for him to recover himself and find
his true position. He has been sacrificed by both parties in the church,
because they failed to heed the admonitions of the Spirit of God. This
is injustice to him. He had newly come to the faith, and was not
prepared for the developments which have been made.
How little we know of the bearing our acts will have upon the future
history of ourselves and others. Many think it is of little importance
what they do. It will do no harm for them to attend this concert, or
unite with the world in that amusement, if they wish to do so. Thus
Satan leads and controls their desires, and they do not consider that
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the results may be most momentous. It may be the link in the chain
of events which binds a soul in the snare of Satan and determines his
eternal ruin.