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Right Methods, Principles, and Motives
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capacity if they erred. They were not to permit their minds to be
affected to action by the words of the Lord’s enemies against His
children. If complaints or murmurings or charges are made they
must study in Christ’s school as to the course to be pursued toward
the ones of whom complaints are made. Tell the matter between him
and thee
alone
, and if he will not hear, then take two or three others;
if he will not hear these, tell it to the church.
Love Not the World
The world has no part with the believers in this work. They
cannot discern the motives and principles by which God’s people
are bound in their relations and dealings with one another. We must
be true, loyal soldiers in the army of Jesus Christ. All His followers
are to keep step with their Leader. They should never introduce
their secrets to, or make confidants of, the enemies of Jesus Christ
in regard to their movements or what they purpose to do in their
line of action; for it is a betrayal of sacred trusts, and is giving the
enemy every advantage. Let the counsel of the people of God be
within their own company. The enemies of Christ should not be
made familiar with their secrets, while the children of God are kept
in ignorance of the very things they ought to know. The secrets of
the Lord are with them that fear Him.
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The world is the chief enemy of religion. The satanic forces are
constantly at work through the world, and those who are professed
Christians, yet associated with the world in close fellowship, are
so much one in spirit, aims, and principles of working, that they
cannot discern between him who serveth God and him who serveth
the world. The enemy works constantly to push the world to the
front, to be looked upon as superior to those who believe in Jesus,
and who seek to be doers of His word. Words of praise and flattery
from worldlings are received as sweet morsels, but the judgment of
those who love this sort of food is in accordance with the weakness
which they show in this direction. Their spiritual life is composed of
just the kind of material they feed upon. Their Christian experience
is largely dependent on flattery and human appreciation. The fear
and love of God are not interwoven in their experience.