To the Saints Scattered Abroad
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that our faith would grow, all would be edified, the weak would be
strengthened, the discouraged and desponding made to look up, and
believe that God is a rewarder of all those who diligently seek him.
Some hold back in meetings because they have nothing new to say,
and must repeat the same story if they speak. I saw that pride was at
the bottom of this. That God and angels witnessed the testimonies
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of the saints, and the Lord was well pleased, and was glorified by
their testimonies repeated weekly. The Lord and his holy angels love
simplicity and humility. I saw that God had been displeased, and
angels grieved, that professed heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus,
should suffer precious time to run to waste in their meetings.
If the brethren and sisters were in the place they should be, they
would not be at a loss to find something to say in honor of Jesus, who
hung upon Calvary’s cross for their sins. If they would cherish more
of a realizing sense of the condescension of God in giving his only
beloved Son to die, a sacrifice for our sins and transgressions, and the
sufferings and anguish of Jesus to make a way of escape for guilty
man, that he might receive pardon and live, they would be more ready
to extol and magnify Jesus. They could not hold their peace; but with
thankfulness and gratitude, would talk of his glory, and tell of his
power. And blessings from God would rest upon them by so doing.
Even if the same story was repeated, God would be glorified.
The Angel shewed me those who ceased not day nor night, crying,
Holy, Holy, Lord, God Almighty. “Continual repetition,” said the
Angel, “yet God is glorified by it.” Although we may tell the same
story over and over, it honors God, and shows that we are not unmindful
of him and his goodness and mercies to us.
I saw that the nominal churches had fallen; that coldness and death
reigns in their midst. If they would follow the Word it would humble
them. But they get above the work of the Lord. It is too humbling for
them to repeat the same simple story of God’s goodness when they
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meet together; and they try to get something new; something great,
and study to have their words exact to the ear, and please man, and
God’s Spirit has left them. When we follow the humble, Bible way,
we shall have the movings of the Spirit of God. All will be in sweet
harmony, if we follow the humble channel of truth, depending wholly
upon God, and there will be no danger of being affected by the evil
angels. It is when souls get above the Spirit of God, moving in their