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
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 Rock Christ
Jesus. I feel deeply. I tremble for you. I see temptations on every hand, and
you with so little power to resist them.
Brother E, I was shown that you are infatuated; you are deceived as
to your motives and the real purposes of your heart. I saw you in the
society of Brother G’s daughter. She has never yielded her heart to Christ.
I was shown her affected and convicted. But your course was not of that
character to deepen conviction, or to give her the impression that there was
special importance attached to these matters. You profess to hold sacred
the salvation of the soul, and the present truth. She does not respect the
Sabbath from principle. She loves the vanity of the world and enjoys the
pride and amusements of
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life. But you have been departing so gradually from God, and from the
light, that you do not see the separation which the truth necessarily brings
between those who love God and those who are lovers of pleasure more
than lovers of God. I saw that you were attracted to her society. Religious
meetings and sacred duties were of minor importance, while the presence
of a mere child, who has no knowledge of the truth or of heavenly things,
fascinated you. You have overlooked self-denial and the cross, which lie
directly in the pathway of every disciple of Christ.
I was shown that if you had been walking in the light you would have
taken your position decidedly for the truth. Your example would have
shown that you considered the truth you profess of that importance that
your affections and heart could go only where the image of Christ was
discernible. Christ now says to you: Which will you have, Me or the world?
Your decision is to be made here. Will you follow the promptings of an
unsanctified heart, turn away from self-denial for Christ’s sake, and step
over the cross without lifting it? Or will you lift that cross, heavy though it
may be, and make some sacrifice for the truth’s sake? May God help you to
see where you are, that you may place a true estimate upon eternal things.
You now have so little spiritual eyesight that the holy and sacred are placed
upon a level with the common. You have responsibilities. Your influence
affects your sisters to a great extent. Your only safety is in separation from
the world.
I was shown you, my brother, taking the young with you to scenes of
amusement at the time of a religious interest, and also engaging in singing
schools with worldlings who are all darkness and who have evil angels all
around them. How does your feeble, dim light appear amid this darkness
and temptation? Angels of God do not attend you upon these occasions.
You are left to go in your own strength. Satan is well pleased with your
position; for he can make you more efficient in his service than if you did
not profess to be a Christian keeping all
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the commandments of God. The True Witness addresses the Laodicean
church: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou
wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich,
and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that
thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel
thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
You are blinded and infatuated. You have felt strong when you were
weakness itself. You can be strong in the Mighty One. You can be an
instrument of righteousness if you are willing to suffer for Christ’s sake.
You and your sisters may redeem the time if you will, but it will cost
an effort. Your younger sister is linked to one who is not worthy of her
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
affections. There are serious defects in his character. He does not have
reverence for sacred and holy things; his heart has not been changed by the
Spirit of God. He is selfish, boastful, and loves pleasure more than duty.
He has no experience in self-denial and humiliation.
In forming friendship, great caution should be exercised