Manuscript Releases, vol. 15 [Nos. 1136-1185]

Mr No. 1158—Biblical Counsel on Solving Church Difficulties

Self-examination Needed

The state of the church was presented before me. I saw many things in a tangled, perplexed condition.... The brethren and sisters are, many of them, unconsecrated, and when individual wrongs are reproved some stand prepared to triumph over those reproved.... 15MR 124.1

The church must search carefully in meekness, and with humble hearts, for their own wrongs which have separated God from them. They must remember that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Self justification must be laid aside, and all possess yielding spirits.... 15MR 124.2

The church must be subject to one another, willing to be counseled, reproved, and directed by the body. Dear self is the most obstinate person the follower of Jesus has to contend with. There must be humility and forbearance in the church. Self must be overcome, and those looking for Christ's appearing must possess the power of endurance and self control if they would have God's Spirit with them.... 15MR 124.3

Then God's people were presented before me. Oh, the lack of forbearance and patience with one another, the lack of brotherly love, of meekness, of self control, while professing to be followers of Christ, subjects of His special grace! Oh, what a reproach to Christ! What a reproach to God's cause! Brethren and sisters professing His name suffer evil traits to appear in their lives, and they are stumbling blocks to those who have not professed to be Christ's followers. The reality of experimental religion and infidelity often blushes at the wayward course of professed Christians.—Letter 16, 1861, pp. 1, 3, 5-6. (Written cir. 1861, to the Church in Roosevelt, N.Y., and vicinity.) 15MR 124.4