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Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
placing the sower on higher ground for every triumph of righteous-
ness gained. Every virtuous action strengthens the spiritual sinews for
new virtue, and every vice repeated rivets the fetters of vice. There
is a growing strength in habit, and by it every action makes way for
repetition....
Retired Life After Loss of Credentials—If you can save your
own soul by a humble, penitent life, that is the greatest work you can
do. God is merciful, but you should not attempt to teach others. You
have lost the power of God to teach. Your work is not acceptable to
God.
It is alarming how rapidly the sin of licentiousness is coming in
among us. While writing out these individual, personal testimonies,
your case was urged upon me with great power in the night season;
and I cannot forbear writing to you. My soul is burdened day and night
for the Israel of God....
Loss of the Power of God—I hoped that you would be of suf-
ficient understanding to know when no credentials were given you
that you should keep humbled and retired. You might have known
that it was my words that had to be spoken in answer to questions put
directly, that settled the matter in regard to your receiving credentials.
But when I see your reports in the paper my heart is sad. No such
reports should enter the columns of our paper. How do those whom
you have sought to ruin look upon these reports? How do those in
_____ regard them? It is because the fine perception is dimmed in
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those in charge of the paper that any of your reports find access to
its columns. The high standard of truth and purity is lowered. Your
spirit of independence and self-esteem shown since the conference
at Battle Creek is anything but the spirit you would have could you
discern yourself and have a true sense of sin.—
Letter 6, 1880
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