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Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
occupy the position of expositors of Bible truth, and have received the
solemn charge; when God and angels are summoned as witnesses to
the solemn dedication of soul, body, and spirit to God’s service—then
shall these men who minister in a most holy office desecrate their
God-given powers to unholy purposes? Shall the sacred vessel, whom
God is to use for a high and holy work, be dragged from its lofty,
controlling sphere to administer to debasing lust?
Definition of a Harlot—Is not this idol worship of the most de-
grading kind?—the lips uttering praises and adoring a sinful human
being, pouring forth expressions of ravishing tenderness and adula-
tion which belong alone to God—the powers given to God in solemn
consecration administering to a harlot, for any woman who will allow
the addresses of another man than her husband, who will listen to his
advances, and whose ears will be pleased with the outpouring of lavish
words of affection, of adoration, of endearment, is an adulteress and a
harlot.—
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 434, 435
.
Right Example by Ministers—Ministers of the gospel would be
powerful men if they set the Lord always before them and devoted
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their time to the study of His adorable character. If they did this,
there would be no apostasies, there would be none separated from the
conference because they have, by their licentious practices, disgraced
the cause of God and put Jesus to an open shame. The powers of every
minister of the gospel should be employed to educate the believing
churches to receive Christ by faith as their personal Saviour, to take
Him into their very lives and make Him their Pattern, to learn of Jesus,
believe in Jesus, and exalt Jesus. The minister should himself dwell
on the character of Christ. He should ponder the truth, and meditate
upon the mysteries of redemption, especially the mediatorial work of
Christ for this time.—
Selected Messages 3:187
.