16 Supplement to the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White
would often talk to ministers of God in a provoking manner, to call
out something from them of the same nature, that they can make
as much of as possible, and declare to others that the teachers of the
commandments have a bitter spirit, and are harsh, as has been reported.
I saw that we must be prepared for objections, and with patience,
judgment and meekness let them have the weight they deserve, and
not throw them away, and dispose of them by positive assertions, and
bear down upon the objector, and manifest a hard spirit towards him,
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but give the objections their weight, then bring forth the light and the
power of the truth, and let it outweigh, and remove the errors; and then
a good impression will be left, and they will acknowledge that they
have been deceived, and that the commandment-keepers are not what
they have been represented to be.
Those who profess to be servants of the living God, must be willing
to be servants of all, instead of being exalted above the brethren, and
they must possess a kind courteous spirit. If they err, they should be
ready to confess thoroughly. Honesty of intention cannot stand as an
excuse for not confessing errors. Confession would not lessen the
confidence of the church in the messenger, and he would set a good
example, a spirit of confession would be encouraged in the church, and
sweet union would be the result. I have seen that those who profess
to be teachers, should be patterns of piety, meekness, and of great
humility, possessing a kind spirit, to win souls to Jesus, and the truth
of the Bible. A minister of Christ should be pure in conversation and
in actions. He should ever bear in mind that he is handling words of
inspiration, words of a holy God. He must bear in mind that the flock
is entrusted to his care, and he is to bear their cases to Jesus, and plead
for them as Jesus pleads for us to the Father. I was pointed back to the
children of Israel anciently, and saw how pure and holy the ministers
of the Sanctuary had to be, because they were brought by their work
into a close connection with God. They that should minister, must
be holy, pure and without blemish, or God would destroy them. I
saw that God had not changed. He was just as holy and pure, just as
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particular as ever he was. He changeth not! Those who profess to be
the ministers of Jesus, should be men of experience and deep piety,
and then at all times, and in all places they can shed a holy influence.
I have seen that it was now time for the messengers to move out
wherever there was an opening, and God would go before them and