Testimony for the Church — No. 17

Epistle Number Eight

Dear Friend ——: In the last vision given me, I saw that you had faults to correct. It is necessary for you to see these before you will make the required effort to correct them. I saw that you had much to learn before you could form a good, Christian character, which God can approve. From your childhood you have been a wayward boy, disposed to have your own way, and to follow your own mind. You have not loved to yield your wishes and will to those who have the care of you. This is the experience you must obtain. T17 138.1

Your danger is increased by the spirit of independence and self-confidence, connected, as of course it must be, with inexperience, which young men of your age are apt to assume when they have not their own dear parents to watch over them, and stir the tender chords of affection in the soul. You feel that it is time for you to think and act for yourself. “I am a young man, and no longer a child. I am capable of judging, discriminating, and determining, between right and wrong. I have rights, and I will stand for them. I am capable of forming my own plans of action. Who has authority to interfere with me?” These have been some of your thoughts, and you are encouraged in them by youth who are about your age. T17 138.2

You feel that you may assert your liberty, and act like a man. These feelings and thoughts lead to wrong action. You have not a submissive spirit. Wise is that young man and highly blest, who feels it to be his duty to look up to his parents, if he have them, if not, to his guardian, or to those with whom he lives, as counselors, as comforters, and, in some respects, his rulers, who allows the restraints of his home to abide upon him. Independence of one kind is praiseworthy. To desire to bear your own weight, and not to eat the bread of dependence, is right. It is a noble, generous ambition that dictates the wish to be self-supported. Industrious habits and frugality are necessary. T17 138.3

Dear ——, you have been placed in unfavorable circumstances for the development of a good, Christian character; but you are now placed where you may build up a reputation, or blast it. The latter, we do not believe you will do. But you are not secure from temptation. In one single hour you may, by yielding to temptation, estrange hearts from you, lose the respect and esteem you have been acquiring from those around you, and also stain your Christian character, which will afterwards cost you tears of bitter repentance. T17 139.1

You have the lesson of submission to learn. You consider it beneath you to do duties about the house—chores and little errands. You have a positive dislike to these little requirements. You have a work to do, to cultivate a love for these very things to which you are so averse. Until you do this, you will not be acceptable help anywhere. You are doing more real service when engaged in these necessary small things, than when engaged in large business and in laborious work. T17 139.2

There is a case now in my mind, of one who was presented before me in vision, who neglected these little things, and could not interest himself in small duties, seeking to lighten the work of females indoors; it was too small business. He has now a family, and possesses the same unwillingness to engage in these important, yet small, duties, which he ever did. The result is, great care rests upon his wife. Many things she has to do, or they will be left undone; and the amount of care, which comes upon her because of her husband's lack, is breaking down her constitution. He cannot now overcome this evil, as he could in his youth. He neglects the little duties, therefore cannot make a successful farmer, and keep everything up tidy and nice. “He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.” T17 139.3

Naaman, the Syrian, consulted the prophet of God as to how he could be cured of a loathsome disease, the leprosy. He was bid to go and bathe in Jordan seven times. Why did he not immediately follow the directions of Elisha, the prophet of God? Why did he refuse to do as the prophet commanded? He went to his servants, murmuring. In his mortification and disappointment, he became passionate, and in a rage refused to follow the humble course marked out by the prophet of God. “I thought,” said he, “He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.” His servant said, “My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather, then, when he saith to thee, Wash [merely], and be clean?” Yes, this great man considered it beneath his dignity to go to the humble river, Jordan, and wash. The rivers he mentioned and desired, were beautified by surrounding trees and groves, and idols were placed in these groves. Many flocked to these rivers to worship their idol gods, therefore it would have cost him no humility. But it was following the specified directions of the prophet which would humble his proud and lofty spirit. Willing obedience would bring the desired result. He washed, and was made whole. T17 140.1

Your case is similar in some respects to Naaman's. You do not consider that, in order to perfect a Christian character, you must condescend to be faithful in the littles. Although these things you are called to do, may be of small account in your eyes, yet they are duties which you will have to do just as long as you live. A neglect of these things will make a great deficiency in your character. You, my dear boy, should educate yourself to faithfulness in small things. You cannot please God unless you do this. You cannot gain love and affection unless you do just as you are bid with pleasure and willingness. If you wish those with whom you live to love you, you must show your love and respect for them. T17 141.1

It is your duty to lighten the cares of Sr. —— all in your power. You see her pale and feeble, cooking for a large family. Every extra job she has to perform, is wearing her, and lessening her vitality. She has no young hands and feet to perform little errands. They received you into their family, as they told you and us at the time, expressly to do these things. Now if you neglect to do the very things they think will help them most, and choose to follow your will in an independent course of your own choosing, you must lose your place, and they must have one that will do the very things you consider too small for you to do. You are now doing larger and heavier work than your strength will admit. You love to do the work of a man. You have a set will of your own which must be given up. You must die to self, crucify self, get the victory over self. You cannot be a true follower of Christ unless you take hold of this work resolutely. T17 141.2

I saw, ——, that you do not naturally possess reverence and respect for those older than yourself. You should be faithful in the little errands and duties you are required to perform. You should not attend to these things as though they were a drug, and go murmuringly about them. You cannot see how unpleasant and unlovely you make yourself. You cannot thus be happy yourself, nor make others happy around you. You should bear in mind that God requires of you, as his servant, to be faithful, to be patient, kind, affectionate, obedient, and respectful. You cannot attain to Christian perfection without you possess perfect control of your own spirit. You allow feelings to arise in your heart, which are sinful, which are a great injury to you, and tend to encourage a hard, defiant spirit, unlike the spirit of Christ, whose life you are commanded to imitate. Dear ——, commence anew, determined, by God's help, to follow the things which are true, lovely, and of good report. Let the fear of God, united with love and affection for all around you, be seen in all your actions. Be faithful and thorough, rid yourself of everything like slackness. Have a place for everything, and put everything in its place. Be accommodating, kind, cheerful, and agreeable. Then you can win your way into the hearts of those you are with. T17 142.1

One thing ever bear in mind: No young man can be possessed of a right spirit who does not respect, and seek to lighten, the cares of women. It is the worst sign that can be found in a young man to consider it beneath him to lighten the labor of women. Such a man is marked. No woman would commit the keeping of her life to such a man; for he will never make a tender, careful, considerate, husband. T17 143.1

The boy is the type of the man. ——, I entreat of you to face right about. Do everything in the shape of small duties, disagreeable though they may be to you, that needs to be done. Then will you have the approval of those around you, and, what is to be more highly prized, you will have the approval of God. You cannot be a Christian unless you are a faithful servant in that which is least. God will bless you, and help you, if you pray, and strive to do your best, to perform every duty. T17 143.2

Do you wish, when Jesus comes to take his faithful ones to himself, to have him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? Do you desire to have all imperfections removed from your character, that you may be found without fault before the throne of God? If so, you have a work to do for yourself which no other can do for you. You have an individual responsibility before God. You can walk in the light, and receive strength from God daily to overcome every imperfection, and finally be among the faithful, true, and holy, in the kingdom of God. T17 143.3

Yield not to temptation. Satan will annoy you, seeking to control your mind, that he may lead you into sin. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Remember that the eye of God is ever upon you. When you answer disrespectfully, God sees and hears you. The Judgment is to come, when all shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body. T17 144.1

You, ——, will have a part to act in the Judgment. Jesus will either receive, or reject you. Flee to him for strength and grace. He will love to help you, to be the guide of your youth, and will so strengthen you that you can bless others with your influence. God loves you, and will save you if you come in his appointed way; but if you rebel, and choose your own course, it will be to your eternal loss. Pray much; for prayer is one of the most essential exercises. Without it you cannot maintain a Christian walk. It elevates, strengthens, and ennobles. It is the soul talking with God. T17 144.2

—, do not think you can cease your efforts or vigilance for a moment; you cannot. Study God's word diligently, that you may not be ignorant of Satan's devices, and that you may learn the way of salvation more perfectly. Your will must be submerged in God's will. Seek not your own pleasure and happiness, but that of those around you; and in so doing you can but be happy. Come to Jesus with all your needs and wants, and in simple confidence crave his blessing. Trust in God, and seek to move from principle, strengthened and ennobled by high resolves and a determination of purpose found only in God. T17 144.3

You should not be easily provoked. Let not your heart become selfish; but let it expand with love. You have a work to do, do not neglect it; endure hardship as a good soldier. Jesus is acquainted with every conflict, every trial, and every pang of anguish. He will help you; for he was tempted in all points like as we are, yet he sinned not. Go to him, dear boy, with your burdens. Take no one into your confidence, and tell no one your difficulties, but ourselves. Make Jesus your burden-bearer, and seek a more thorough experience in religious things. God help and bless you, is my sincere prayer. T17 145.1

My tenderest sympathies are aroused for orphans. You indeed have no home. The grave has taken your father and your mother, and the home of your childhood others inhabit. You cannot have as distinct recollection of your godly father as of your mother. You remember that you sometimes grieved her. You had not learned submission; you have yet but partially learned the lesson. But the prayers of your parents have found a lodgment in Heaven, that you may be among those who love and fear God. T17 145.2

Oh! this is a cold and selfish world. Your relatives, who should have loved and befriended you, if not for your own, for your parents’ sake, have shut themselves up in their selfishness, and have no special interest for you. But God will be nearer and dearer to you, than any of your earthly relatives can be. He will be your friend, and never leave you. He is a father to the fatherless. His friendship will prove sweet peace to you, and will help you to bear your great loss with fortitude. T17 145.3

Seek to make God your father, and you will never want a friend. You will be exposed to trials, yet be steadfast, and strive to adorn your profession. You will need grace to stand, but God has his eye of pity upon you. Pray much and earnestly, believing that God will help you. Guard against irritability, and petulance, and a spirit of tantalizing. Forbearance is a virtue which you need to encourage. Seek for piety of heart. Be a consistent Christian. Possess a love of purity and humble simplicity; and let these be interwoven with your life. T17 146.1

You should not only educate yourself to fear God, but to love all around you; and yours can be a useful and happy life, and your example can be such as to lead others to choose the humble path of holiness. Be right. Have moral courage at all times to do right, and honor your Redeemer. Dear boy, seek true holiness, I implore you. T17 146.2

E. G. W.

* * * * *