48 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
heavenly beings cannot remain where the presence of Jesus is not
desired and encouraged, and where his absence is not marked. They
are not attracted to the crowd where minds are diverted from heavenly
things. For this reason, great mourning, grief, and discouragement ex-
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ist among the professed followers of Christ. By neglect of meditation,
watchfulness, and prayer, they lose all that is valuable. The divine rays
of light emanating from Jesus are not with them, cheering them with
their holy, elevating influence. They are enshrouded in gloom, because
their careless, irreverent spirit has separated Jesus from their company,
and driven from them the ministering angels.
Many attend religious meetings, receive instruction from the ser-
vants of God, and are greatly refreshed and blessed; and yet, because
they do not feel the necessity of praying and watching thereunto on
the homeward journey, they return to their homes no better than when
they left them. As they realize their loss, they frequently feel inclined
to complain of others, or to murmur against God, but do not reproach
themselves as the cause of their own darkness and sufferings of mind.
These should not reflect upon others. The fault is in themselves; they
talked, jested, and visited until they grieved away the heavenly Guest,
and they have only themselves to blame. It is the privilege of all to
retain Jesus with them. If they do this, their words must be select, sea-
soned with grace, and the thoughts of their hearts must be disciplined
to dwell upon heavenly things.
We have had great light and privileges at these meetings, and now
let us retain the impressions that have been made upon our hearts.
When we feel the least inclined to commune with Jesus, let us pray the
most. By so doing we shall break Satan’s snare, the clouds of darkness
will disappear, and we shall realize the sweet presence of Jesus. Let us
here resolve that we will not sin against God with our lips, that we will
never speak in a light and trifling manner, that we will never murmur
or complain at the providence of God, and that we will not become
accusers of our brethren. We cannot always hinder the thoughts that
come as temptations; but we can resist the enemy so that we shall not
utter them. The adversary of souls is not permitted to read the thoughts
of men; but he is a keen observer, and he marks the words and actions,
and skillfully adapts his temptations accordingly. If all would labor
to repress sinful thoughts and feelings, giving them no expression in