Neighborhood Ministry
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to become a Christian you have become discouraged. [You may have]
thought that the confidence of others in you was so much shaken that
they could not have faith in efforts you might make in the future.
But, Maria, if the Christian life has charms in it for you, and you
see the sinfulness of sin and your lost condition out of Christ, I advise
you to commence again in earnest. In meekness seek the Lord. You
may be very distrustful of yourself, for you have reason to be. But God
is true, and I advise you for your soul’s sake to try again and earnestly
seek to become a follower of Christ. This work no other can do for
you. It is a solemn work between God and your own soul, which must
bear the test of the Almighty.
Let me entreat of you to seek for those things which make for your
peace. You have all your life been anxiously, worriedly seeking for
earthly pleasure and worldly enjoyments to satisfy the longing mind;
but a thorn has been found in every earthly, worldly pleasure. With
you it has been disappointment upon disappointment, and life has been
a failure. You have not filled the purpose on earth which God designed
you should. Your mind has been allowed to dwell upon frivolity,
fashion, and show. Appearance has been the altar whereon you have
sacrificed soberness of thought—high and elevated considerations and
eternal interests which are as much higher and more valuable than
earthly considerations as the heavens are higher than the earth.
Satan has strewed the broad and downward road with tempting
flowers, but those who are allured to death in this road learn by experi-
ence that these pleasing flowers wither as soon as grasped. They yield
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no rich perfume, but a disagreeable, sickening odor.
Maria, do you intend to devote to God the little time that is allowed
you and secure your happiness here and salvation hereafter? I beg
of you to take hold of the work in earnest. No longer worship your
personal appearance, which cannot bring you into favor with God in
the least. God prizes moral worth. Says Peter, “Whose adorning let
it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of
gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
1 Peter
3:3, 4
.
Seek for this meek and quiet spirit. Get rid of this spirit which
controls [you] to a great extent. Overcome this desire for change,