Testimony for the Church — No. 17

Epistle Number Nine

Dear Sr. ——: Some things have been shown me in reference to yourself. Dear sister, you have not a sense of your true state. You need a deep and thorough work of grace in your heart. You need to set your heart and your house in order. Your example in your family is not worthy of imitation. You come up to a low standard, but fail to come to the standard elevated by our divine Lord. You love to visit and to talk. You talk much, and say many things unbecoming a Christian. You exaggerate in your statements, and frequently come far from the truth. Your words and acts will judge you in the last day. By your words and works you will be justified, or by the same condemned. Your education has not been of an exalted character, therefore there is the greatest necessity of your now training and educating yourself to purity of thoughts and acts. You need to train your thoughts, that it may become easy to dwell upon pure and holy things. You should cultivate a love for spirituality and true godliness. T17 146.3

Your conversation is often of a low order. You deceive your own soul, which will prove fatal unless you arouse to see yourself as you are, and turn unto God with true humbleness of mind. T17 147.1

You are inclined to be deceptive. Your son has not an experimental knowledge of God, or of the sacred claims of truth. He is a most miserable representative of a Christian, Sabbath-keeping boy. He is flattered by his parents that he is a Christian. God forbid that we acknowledge such as being Christ-like. You do not discipline your boy. He is self-willed and bigoted. He has but very little sense of true courtesy, or even common politeness. He is rough and uncultivated, unloving and unlovable. You represent to others that he is a Christian, and by so doing you disgrace the cause of Jesus Christ. This boy is in a fair way of becoming an educated hypocrite. He has not control over himself, yet you flatter him that he is a Christian. T17 147.2

The work of reform must commence with you. You should become chaste in conversation, and a keeper at home, loving your home duties, loving your husband and child. You should study to economize your time, so as not to overtax your strength. The light burdens of home duties which you have to bear, you can perform without over-taxation, if you exercise perseverance and proper diligence. T17 148.1

You have a work to do to control the tongue. It is a little member, and boasteth great things; but it needs the bridle of grace and the bit of self-control, to keep it from running at random. Your conversation is of a low order, and you indulge in much cheap talk. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” T17 148.2

May the Lord convict you of these things as you read these lines. I entreat of you to put on the meek dignity of a wife and mother. There is a responsibility resting upon the father. Your efforts should be united to control your son, who is on the fast road to perdition. You should earnestly seek for the inward adorning, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. With patience, grace, and sweet humility, you can teach your poor, deceived boy the first principles of Christianity, and true politeness, or Christian courtesy. You are frequently hasty and boisterous. Oh! how important that you see the work to be done for you, before it shall be forever too late. Now Jesus invites you to come to him, and to learn of him, for he is meek and lowly of heart. The promise he has given you is sure, that you will find rest in him. You have a great work to do. Deceive not your own souls, but examine yourselves as in the light of eternity. It is impossible for you to be saved as you are. T17 148.3

Sr. ——, your husband might be of some use in the church, if your influence was what it ought to be. Your example and influence disqualify him to exert a good and sanctifying influence in the church. Home influences more than counteract your husband's efforts for good. You are wholly unqualified for the wife of the elder of the church. God calls upon you to reform. Your husband has a work to do to set his heart and house in order. When he is converted, then can he strengthen his brethren. T17 149.1

As a family, you need to be sanctified through the truth. Sr. ——, will you see the work to be done for you, and take hold of it without delay, that your influence may be saving? Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” T17 149.2

There are enough subjects, to meditate and converse upon, that are profitable. The conversation of the Christian should be in Heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour. Meditation upon heavenly things is profitable, and will ever be accompanied with peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Our calling is holy, our profession exalted. God is purifying unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. He is sitting as a refiner and purifier of silver. When the dross and tin are removed, then his image shall be perfectly reflected in us. Then the prayer of Christ for his disciples will be answered in us, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.” When the truth has its sanctifying influence upon our hearts and lives, we can render to God acceptable service, and can glorify him upon the earth, being partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. T17 149.3

Oh! how many will be found unready when the Master shall come to reckon with his servants. They have meagre ideas of what constitutes a Christian. Self-righteousness will then be of no avail. None can stand the test only those who shall be found having on the righteousness of Christ, imbued with his spirit, walking even as he walked, in purity of heart and life. The conversation must be holy, and then the words will be seasoned with grace. T17 150.1

May the Lord help you as a family to get right, to be elevated in life, and in all your acts honor your profession. T17 150.2

E. G. W.

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