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Counsels for the Church
put forth in lowliness and meekness. It requires the testing time to
reveal the pure gold of love and faith in the character. When trials and
perplexities come upon the church, then the steadfast zeal and warm
affections of Christ’s true followers are developed.
All who come within the sphere of his [the true religious man]
influence perceive the beauty and fragrance of his Christian life, while
he himself is unconscious of it, for it is in harmony with his habits
and inclinations. He prays for divine light, and loves to walk in that
light. It is his meat and drink to do the will of his heavenly Father.
His life is hid with Christ in God; yet he does not boast of this, nor
seem conscious of it. God smiles upon the humble and lowly ones
who follow closely in the footsteps of the Master. Angels are attracted
to them, and love to linger about their path. They may be passed by as
unworthy of notice by those who claim exalted attainments and who
delight in making prominent their good works, but heavenly angels
bend lovingly over them and are as a wall of fire round about them
Daniel—An Example of a Sanctified Life
The life of Daniel is an inspired illustration of what constitutes a
sanctified character. It presents a lesson for all, and especially for the
young. A strict compliance with the requirements of God is beneficial
to the health of body and mind. In order to reach the highest standard
of moral and intellectual attainments, it is necessary to seek wisdom
and strength from God and to observe strict temperance in all the habits
of life
The more blameless the conduct of Daniel, the greater was the
hatred excited against him by his enemies. They were filled with
madness, because they could find nothing in his moral character or
in the discharge of his duties upon which to base a complaint against
him. “Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this
Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
Daniel 6:5
.
[53]
What a lesson is here presented for all Christians. The keen eyes
of jealousy were fixed upon Daniel day after day; their watchings were
sharpened by hatred; yet not a word or act of his life could they make
18
The Sanctified Life, 11-15
19
The Sanctified Life, 23