keep a reserve of arguments than to pour out a depth of knowledge
upon a subject which would be taken for granted without labored argument.
Christ’s ministry lasted only three years, and a great work was done in that
short period. In these last days there is a great work to be done in a short
time. While many are getting ready to do something, souls will perish for
the light and knowledge.
If men who are engaged in presenting and defending the truth of the
Bible undertake to investigate and show the fallacy and inconsistency of
men who dishonestly turn the truth of God into a lie, Satan will stir up
opponents enough to keep their pens constantly employed, while other
branches of the work will be left to suffer.
We must have more of the spirit of those men who were engaged in
building the walls of Jerusalem. We are doing a great work, and we cannot
come down. If Satan sees that he can keep men answering the objections
of opponents, and thus keep their voices silent, and hinder them from doing
the most important work for the present time, his object is accomplished.
The Sabbath History has been kept from the people too long. They
need this precious work, even if they do not have it in all its perfection. It
never can be prepared in a manner to fully silence unreasonable opponents,
who are unstable, and who wrest the Scriptures unto their own destruction.
This is a busy world. Men and women who engage in the business of
life have not time to meditate, or even to read the word of God enough
to understand all its important truths. Long, labored arguments will interest
but a few; for the people have to read as they run. You can no more remove
the objections to the Sabbath commandment from the minds of first-day
Adventists than could the Saviour of the world, by His great power and
miracles, convince the Jews that He was the Messiah, after they had once
set themselves to reject Him. Like the obstinate, unbelieving Jews, they
have chosen darkness rather than light, and should an angel direct from the
courts of heaven speak to them, they would say it was Satan.
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The world needs labor now. Calls are coming in from every direction
like the Macedonian cry: “Come over and help us.” Plain, pointed
arguments, standing our as mileposts, will do more toward convincing
minds generally than will a large array of arguments which cover a great
deal of ground, but which none but investigating minds will have interest
to follow. The Sabbath History should be given to the people. While
one edition is circulating, and the people are being benefited by it, greater
improvements may be made, until everything possible has been done to
bring it to perfection. Our success will be in reaching common minds.
Those who have talent and position are so exalted above the simplicity of
the work, and so well satisfied with themselves, that they feel no need of the
truth. They are exactly where the Jews were, self-righteous, self-sufficient.
They are whole and have no need of a physician.
*****
Chap. 4 - Intimate FriendshipWith
Worldlings
December 10, 1871, I was shown, Brother E, that you and your
sisters were in a very dangerous condition; and that which makes your
position the more dangerous is that you do not realize your true state. I
saw you enveloped in darkness. This darkness has not settled upon you
suddenly. You commenced to enter the mist of darkness gradually, and
almost imperceptibly, until the darkness is as light to you, yet the cloud is
becoming more dense every day. Now and then I saw a gleaming of light
separating the darkness from you; then again it would close about you,
firmer and more dense than before.
Your singing schools have ever been a snare to you. Neither you nor
your sisters have a depth of experience that will enable you to be brought in
contact with the influences you meet in your singing schools, without being
affected. It would take stronger minds, with greater decision of character
than you three possess, to be brought into the society you are and not
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be affected. Listen to the words of Christ: “Ye are the light of the world.
A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle,
and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto
all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Have your example and influence been of that positive character that has
impressed and convicted your associates? I think not. You have been
injured. Darkness has settled upon you and dimmed your light so that it
has not burned with that luster to dispel the darkness about others. You
have been separating further and further from God.
You, my brother, have but a faint sense of what you have been doing.
You have been standing directly in the way of your sisters’ advancement
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
in the divine life. They, more especially F, have been entangled with the
bewitching, satanic wiles of spiritualism, and if she rids herself of this
unholy slime of Satan, which has perverted her sense of eternal things,
she will have to make a mighty effort. It will be but a hairbreadth escape.
You have been blinded, deceived, and enchanted yourself. You do not see
yourself. You are all very weak, when you might be strong in the precious,
saving truth, strengthened, established, and settled upon the
