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Chapter 8—Workers with God
[The articles in this section are from Special Testimonies, Series A
3:16-23 (1895).]
Love and Confidence Among Brethren
October 30, 1894.
When men will show confidence in their fellowmen they will
come much nearer to possessing the mind of Christ. The Lord has
revealed the estimate that He places upon man. “For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” But some minds
are ever seeking to reshape the character of others according to their
own ideas and measure. God has not given them this work to do.
Self will ever cherish a high estimate of self. As men lose their
first love, they do not keep the commandments of God, and then
they begin to criticize one another. This spirit will constantly be
striving for the mastery to the close of time. Satan is seeking to
foster it in order that brethren in their ignorance may seek to devour
one another. God is not glorified but greatly dishonored; the Spirit
of God is grieved. Satan exults, because he knows that if he can
set brother to watch brother in the church and in the ministry some
will be so disheartened and discouraged as to leave their posts of
duty. This is not the work of the Holy Spirit; a power from beneath
is working in the chambers of the mind and in the soul temple to
place his attributes where the attributes of Christ should be.
He who has paid the infinite price to redeem men reads with
unerring accuracy all the hidden workings of the human mind, and
knows just how to deal with every soul. And in dealing with men,
He manifests the same principles that are manifest in the natural
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world. The beneficent operations of nature are not accomplished
by abrupt and startling interpositions; men are not permitted to
take her work into their own hands. God works through the calm,
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