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Faithful, Earnest Warnings
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them through the trumpet, “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come
unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto
him.” All who were repentant had the privilege of taking their stand
beside Moses. “And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of
Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from
gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother,
and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. And
the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there
fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” There was no
partiality, no hypocrisy, no confederating to shield the guilty. For
the terror of the Lord was upon the people.
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Those who had shown so little sense of the presence and the
greatness of God, and who, after the exhibition of His majesty, were
ready to depart from the Lord, would be a continual snare to Israel.
They were slain, as a rebuke to sin, and to put a fear upon the people
to dishonor God.
Danger of Self-Pleasing
I cannot now consider this history further, but I ask you in every
city, in every town, in every household, I ask every individual, to
study the lesson of this scripture, bearing in mind the words of
inspiration, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Here is presented the only election that is brought to view in the
word of God. It is those who take heed lest they fall that will be
accepted at last. There can be no presumption more fatal than that
which leads men to venture upon a course of self-pleasing. In view
of this solemn warning from God, should not fathers and mothers
take heed? Should they not faithfully point out to the youth the
dangers that are constantly arising to lead them away from God?
Many allow the youth to attend parties of pleasure, thinking that
amusement is essential for health and happiness; but what dangers
are in that path! The more the desire for pleasure is gratified, the
more it is cultivated and the stronger it becomes. The life experience
is largely made up of self-gratification in amusement. God bids us
to beware. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
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We should come into a position where every difference will be
melted away. If I think I have light, I shall do my duty in presenting