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Testimonies for the Church Volume 7
the sick and to relieve the suffering. Character is given to the work,
not by investing means in large buildings, but by maintaining the true
standard of religious principles, with noble Christlikeness of character.
The mistakes that have been made in the erection of buildings
in the past should be salutary admonitions to us in the future. We
are to observe where others have failed, and, instead of copying their
mistakes, make improvements. In all our advance work we must regard
the necessity of economy. There must be no needless expense. The
Lord is soon to come, and our outlay in buildings is to be in harmony
with our faith. Our means is to be used in providing cheerful rooms,
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healthful surroundings, and wholesome food.
Our ideas of building and furnishing our institutions are to be
molded and fashioned by a true, practical knowledge of what it means
to walk humbly with God. Never should it be thought necessary to
give an appearance of wealth. Never should appearance be depended
on as a means of success. This is a delusion. The desire to make
an appearance that is not in every way appropriate to the work that
God has given us to do, an appearance that could be kept up only by
expending a large sum of money, is a merciless tyrant. It is like a
canker that is ever eating into the vitals.
Men of common sense appreciate comfort above elegance and
display. It is a mistake to suppose that, by keeping up an appearance,
more patients, and therefore more means, would be gained. But even if
this course would bring an increase of patronage, we could not consent
to have our sanitariums furnished according to the luxurious ideas of
the age. Christian influence is too valuable to be sacrificed in this way.
All the surroundings, inside and outside our institutions, must be in
harmony with the teachings of Christ and the expression of our faith.
Our work in all its departments should be an illustration, not of display
and extravagance, but of sanctified judgment.
It is not large, expensive buildings; it is not rich furniture; it is not
tables loaded with delicacies, that will give our work influence and
success. It is the faith that works by love and purifies the soul; it is
the atmosphere of grace that surrounds the believer, the Holy Spirit
working upon mind and heart, that makes him a savor of life unto life,
and enables God to bless his work.
God can communicate with His people today and give them wis-
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dom to do His will, even as He communicated with His people of old