Social Purity
[
Testimonies for the Church 2:450-457
(1868).]
The Lord made a special covenant with ancient Israel: “Now there-
fore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye
shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth
is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy
nation.”
Exodus 19:5, 6
. He addresses His commandment-keeping
people in these last days, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show
forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light.” “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, abstain from freshly lusts, which war against the soul.”
1
Peter 2:9, 11
.
Not all who profess to keep the commandments of God possess
their bodies in sanctification and honor. The most solemn message
ever committed to mortals has been entrusted to this people, and they
can have a powerful influence if they will be sanctified by it. They
profess to be standing upon the elevated platform of eternal truth,
keeping all of God’s commandments; therefore, if they indulge in
sin, if they commit fornication and adultery, their crime is of tenfold
greater magnitude than is that of the classes I have named, who do not
acknowledge the law of God as binding upon them. In a peculiar sense
do those who profess to keep God’s law dishonor Him and reproach
the truth by transgressing its precepts.
The Experience of Israel a Warning
It was the prevalence of this very sin, fornication, among ancient
Israel, which brought upon them the signal manifestation of God’s
displeasure. His judgments then followed close upon their heinous sin;
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thousands fell and their polluted bodies were left in the wilderness.
“But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were
overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples,
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