High Spiritual Standards for God’s Workmen
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they are in love. Their constant attention to one another soon has its
influence, and spiritual things are not appreciated. As in the days be-
fore the Flood, there is an influence to continually draw the mind from
God, and to fasten the affections upon the human instead of the divine.
The girls in the office, some of them, are entirely unprepared to serve
God; their thoughts are vain and unconsecrated; they are superficial;
they have not the fruits of a Christian life. They must have a deep
and thorough conversion, or they will never see the kingdom of God.
Now, these young persons associating together in the office, forming
attachments with view to marriage, and giving themselves up to these
attachments, are unfitting themselves for the work. They cannot do
their work with singleness of purpose, fidelity, and integrity. They
are unfitted by this infatuation, and a demoralizing influence is felt all
through the office....
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God will accept the services of young men and young women, if
they will consecrate themselves to Him without reserve. But when
they begin to form these incautious, immature attachments, devotion,
consecration, and religion are made of but little account. It is death to
religious fervor, death to growth in grace. It is a time when the most
solemn and serious thoughts should occupy the mind, and the most
thorough consecration should be cherished. We are forming characters;
brick is laid upon brick, one upon another, and the structure is going
up, a beautiful temple to God. These young men may rise to almost
any height in intellectual advancement and spiritual power. I warn
these young men not to marry, and the young ladies not to be given in
marriage, until they have gained knowledge, experience, and success
in their efforts to reach the high standard for which they have thought
to aim.—SpTWWPP 13-16.
To Seek for Perfection of Character—There should be a thor-
ough reformation on the part of the men who are now connected with
our important institutions. They possess some valuable traits of char-
acter, while they are sadly lacking in others. Their character needs to
have a different mold, one after the likeness of Christ. They must all
remember that they have not yet attained unto perfection, that the work
of character building is not yet finished. If they will walk in every
ray of light that God has given; if they will compare themselves with
Christ’s life and character, they will discern where they have failed
to meet the requirements of God’s holy law and will seek to make