52 A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White
Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.” They can accomplish
but little good, unless they are wholly given up to God, and feel the
importance and solemnity of the last message of mercy, that is now
being given to the scattered flock.
Some, that are not called of God, are very willing to go with the
message. But if they felt the weight of the cause, and the responsibili-
ties of such a station, they would feel to shrink back, and say with the
Apostle, “Who is sufficient for these things?” One reason why they
are so willing to go is because God has not laid upon them the weight
of the cause.
Not every one that proclaimed the first and second angel’s messages
are to give the third, even after they fully embrace it, for some have
been in many errors and delusions, (and they must have moved wrong
in the first place, or God would not have given them up to such errors,)
that they can but just save their own souls, and if they undertake to
guide others, they will be the means of overthrowing them. But I saw
that some who have formerly run deep into fanaticism would be the
first now to run before God sends them, before they are purified from
their past errors, and would have error mixed with the truth, and would
feed the flock of God with it, and if suffered to go on, the flock would
become sickly; and distraction and death would follow. I saw that
they would have to be sifted and sifted, until they were freed from
all their errors, or they never could enter the kingdom. I saw that
the messengers could not have that confidence in the judgment and
discernment of those who have been in errors and fanaticism, that
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they could in those who have been in the truth, and have not been into
extravagant errors. Many, also, are too apt to urge out into the field
some who have but just confessed the present truth, and have much
to learn and much to do before they can be right in the sight of God
themselves, instead of pointing out the way to others.
I saw the necessity of the messengers, especially, watching, and
checking all fanaticism wherever they might see it arise. Satan is
pressing in on every side, and unless we watch for him, and have our
eyes open to his devises and snares, and have on the whole armor of
God, the fiery darts of the wicked will hit us. There are many precious
truths, contained in the word of God, but it is “present truth” that the
flock needs now. I have seen the danger of the messengers running off
from the important points of present truth, to dwell upon subjects that