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Counsels for the Church
great sacrifice that has been made to save souls shows us their worth.
When the precious soul is once lost, it is lost forever.
I have seen an angel standing with scales in his hands weighing
the thoughts and interest of the people of God, especially the young.
In one scale were the thoughts and interest tending heavenward; in
the other were the thoughts and interest tending to earth. And in this
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scale were thrown all the reading of storybooks, thoughts of dress
and show, vanity, pride, etc. Oh, what a solemn moment! the angels
of God standing with scales, weighing the thoughts of His professed
children—those who claim to be dead to the world and alive to God.
The scale filled with thoughts of earth, vanity, and pride quickly went
down, notwithstanding weight after weight rolled from the scale. The
one with the thoughts and interest tending to heaven went quickly up as
the other went down, and oh, how light it was! I can relate this as I saw
it; but never can I give the solemn and vivid impression stamped upon
my mind, as I saw the angel with the scales weighing the thoughts and
interest of the people of God. Said the angel: “Can such enter heaven?
No, no, never. Tell them the hope they now possess is vain, and unless
they speedily repent, and obtain salvation, they must perish.”
A form of godliness will not save any. All must have a deep and
living experience. This alone will save them in the time of trouble.
Then their work will be tried of what sort it is; and if it is gold, silver,
and precious stones, they will be hid as in the secret of the Lord’s
pavilion. But if their work is wood, hay, and stubble, nothing can
shield them from the fierceness of Jehovah’s wrath.
I saw that many measure themselves among themselves, and com-
pare their lives with the lives of others. This should not be. No one
but Christ is given us as an example. He is our true Pattern, and each
should strive to excel in imitating Him. We are co-workers with Christ,
or co-workers with the enemy. We either gather with Christ or scat-
ter abroad. We are decided, wholehearted Christians, or none at all.
Says Christ: “I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou
art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My
mouth.”
I saw that some hardly know as yet what self-denial or sacrifice is,
or what it is to suffer for the truth’s sake. But none will enter heaven
without making a sacrifice. A spirit of self-denial and sacrifice should
be cherished. Some have not sacrificed themselves, their own bodies,