men among us. What is the secret of our prosperity? We
have moved under the orders of the Captain of our salvation. God
has blessed our united efforts. The truth has spread and flourished.
Institutions have multiplied. The mustard seed has grown to a great tree.
The system of organization has proved a grand success. Systematic
benevolence [See appendix.] was entered into according to the Bible
plan. The body has been “compacted by that which every joint
supplieth.” As we have advanced, our system of organization has still
proved effectual.
Let none entertain the thought that we can dispense with
organization. It has cost us much study and many prayers for wisdom,
that we know God has answered, to erect this structure. It has been built
up by His
27
direction, through much sacrifice and conflict. Let none of our brethren
be so deceived as to attempt to tear it down, for you will thus bring in a
condition of things that you do not dream of. In the name of the Lord I
declare to you that it is to stand, strengthened, established, and settled.
At God’s command, “Go forward,” we advanced when the difficulties
to be surmounted made the advance seem impossible. We know how
much it has cost to work out God’s plans in the past, which have made
us as a people what we are. Then let everyone be exceedingly careful
not to unsettle minds in regard to those things that God has ordained for
our prosperity and success in advancing His cause.
Angels work harmoniously. Perfect order characterizes all their
movements. The more closely we imitate the harmony and order of the
angelic host, the more successful will be the efforts of these heavenly
agents in our behalf. If we see no necessity for harmonious action,
and are disorderly, undisciplined, and disorganized in our course of
action, angels, who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order,
cannot work for us successfully. They turn away in grief, for they are
not authorized to bless confusion, distraction, and disorganization. All
who desire the cooperation of the heavenly messengers must work in
unison with them. Those who have the unction from on high will in
all their efforts encourage order, discipline, and union of action, and
then the angels of God can cooperate with them. But never, never will
these heavenly messengers place their endorsement upon irregularity,
disorganization, and disorder. All these evils are the result of Satan’s
efforts to weaken our forces, to destroy our courage, and prevent
successful action.
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Satan well knows that success can only attend order and harmonious
action. He well knows that everything connected with heaven is in
perfect order, that subjection and perfect discipline mark the movements
of the angelic host. It is his studied effort to lead professed Christians
just as far from heaven’s arrangement as he can; therefore he deceives
even the professed people of God and makes them believe that order
and discipline are enemies to spirituality, that the only safety for them
is to let each pursue his own course, and to remain especially distinct
from bodies of Christians who are united and are laboring to establish
discipline and harmony of action. All the efforts made to establish order
are considered dangerous, a restriction of rightful liberty, and hence are
feared as popery. These devoted souls consider it a virtue to boast of
their freedom to think and act independently. They will not take any
man’s say-so. They are amenable to no man. I was shown that it is
Satan’s special work to lead men to feel that it is God’s order for them
to strike out for themselves and choose their own course independent of
their brethren.
Individual Responsibility and Christian Unity
God is leading a people out from the world upon the exalted
platform of eternal truth, the commandments of God and the faith of
Jesus. He will discipline and fit up His people. They will not be at
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
variance, one believing one thing and another having faith and views
entirely opposite, each moving independently of the body. Through the
diversity of the gifts and governments that He has placed in the church,
they will all come to the unity o
