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Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
contrite heart, He will remove. This faith is the life of the church.
As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness by Moses, and all that
had been bitten by the fiery serpents were bidden to look and live,
so also the Son of man must be lifted up, that “whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Unless he makes it his life business to behold the uplifted
Saviour, and by faith to accept the merits which it is his privilege to
claim, the sinner can no more be saved than Peter could walk upon
the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus. Now, it
has been Satan’s determined purpose to eclipse the view of Jesus
and lead men to look to man, and trust to man, and be educated to
expect help from man. For years the church has been looking to man
and expecting much from man, but not looking to Jesus, in whom
our hopes of eternal life are centered. Therefore God gave to His
servants a testimony that presented the truth as it is in Jesus, which
is the third angel’s message, in clear, distinct lines. John’s words are
to be sounded by God’s people, that all may discern the light and
walk in the light: “He that cometh from above is above all: he that
is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh
from heaven is above all. And what He hath seen and heard, that He
testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received
His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For He whom
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God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the
Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath
given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
This is the testimony that must go throughout the length and
breadth of the world. It presents the law and the gospel, binding up
the two in a perfect whole. (See
Romans 5
and
1 John 3:9
to the
close of the chapter.) These precious scriptures will be impressed
upon every heart that is opened to receive them. “The entrance of
Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple”—
those who are contrite in heart. “As many as received Him, to them
gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe
on His name.” These have not a mere nominal faith, a theory of
truth, a legal religion, but they believe to a purpose, appropriating
to themselves the richest gifts of God. They plead for the gift, that