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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
souls, to pray with them and for them, and lead them step by step to
the Saviour.
But those who do not recognize the claims of God are not the
only ones who are in distress and in need of help. In the world today,
where selfishness, greed, and oppression rule, many of the Lord’s
true children are in need and affliction. In lowly, miserable places,
surrounded with poverty, disease, and guilt, many are patiently bearing
their own burden of suffering, and trying to comfort the hopeless and
sin-stricken about them. Many of them are almost unknown to the
churches or to the ministers; but they are the Lord’s lights, shining amid
the darkness. For these the Lord has a special care, and He calls upon
His people to be His helping hand in relieving their wants. Wherever
there is a church, special attention should be given to searching out
this class and ministering to them.
And while working for the poor, we should give attention also to
the rich, whose souls are equally precious in the sight of God. Christ
worked for all who would hear His word. He sought not only the
publican and the outcast, but the rich and cultured Pharisee, the Jewish
nobleman, and the Roman ruler. The wealthy man needs to be labored
for in the love and fear of God. Too often he trusts in his riches and
feels not his danger. The worldly possessions which the Lord has
entrusted to men are often a source of great temptation. Thousands
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are thus led into sinful indulgences that confirm them in habits of
intemperance and vice. Among the wretched victims of want and
sin are found many who were once in possession of wealth. Men of
different vocations and different stations in life have been overcome by
the pollutions of the world, by the use of strong drink, by indulgence
in the lusts of the flesh, and have fallen under temptation. While
these fallen ones excite our pity and demand our help, should not
some attention be given also to those who have not yet descended to
these depths, but who are setting their feet in the same path? There
are thousands occupying positions of honor and usefulness who are
indulging habits that mean ruin to soul and body. Should not the most
earnest effort be made to enlighten them?
Ministers of the gospel, statesmen, authors, men of wealth and
talent, men of vast business capacity and power for usefulness, are in
deadly peril because they do not see the necessity of strict temperance
in all things. They need to have their attention called to the principles