Some, I saw, have not a realizing sense of the importance of the
truth or of its effect, and moving from the impulse of the moment
or from excitement, often follow their feelings and disregard
church order. Such seem to think that religion consists chiefly
in making a noise. Some who have but just received the truth of
the third angel's message are ready to reprove and teach those
who have been established in the truth for years, and who have
suffered for its sake and felt its sanctifying power. Those who
are so puffed up by the enemy will have to feel the sanctifying
influence of the truth and obtain a realizing sense of how it
found them--"wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,
and naked." When the truth begins to purify them and purge
away their dross and tin, as it surely will when it is received
in the love of it, the one who has this great work done for him
will not feel that he is rich and increased in goods and has need
of nothing.
Those who profess the truth and think they know it all before
they have learned its first principles, and who are forward to
take the place of teachers and reprove those who for years have
stood stiffly for the truth, plainly show that they have no understanding
of the truth, and know none of its effects; for if they knew any
of the sanctifying power, they should yield the peaceable fruits
of righteousness and be humbled under its sweet, powerful influence.
They would bear fruit to the glory of God, and understand what
the truth has done for them, and esteem others better than themselves.
I saw that the remnant were not prepared for what is coming upon
the earth. Stupidity, like lethargy, seemed to hang upon the minds
of most of those who profess to believe that we are having the
last message. My accompanying angel cried out with awful solemnity,
"Get ready! get ready! get ready! for the fierce anger of
the Lord is soon to come. His wrath is to be poured out, unmixed
with mercy, and ye are not ready. Rend the heart, and not the
garment. A great work must be done for the remnant. Many of them
are dwelling upon little trials." Said the angel, "Legions
of evil angels are around you, and are trying to press in their
awful darkness, that ye may be ensnared and taken. Ye suffer your
minds to be diverted too readily from the work of preparation
and the all-important truths for these last days. And ye dwell
upon little trials and go into minute particulars of little difficulties
to explain them to the satisfaction of this one or that."
Conversation has been protracted for hours between the parties
concerned, and not only has their time been wasted, but the servants
of God are held to listen to them, when the hearts of both parties
are unsubdued by grace. If pride and selfishness were laid aside,
five minutes would remove most difficulties. Angels have been
grieved and God displeased by the hours which have been spent
in justifying self. I saw that God will not bow down and listen
to long justifications, and He does not want His servants to do
so, and thus precious time be wasted that should be spent in showing
transgressors the error of their ways and pulling souls out of
the fire.
I saw that God's people are on the enchanted ground, and that
some have lost nearly all sense of the shortness of time and the
worth of the soul. Pride has crept in among Sabbathkeepers-pride
of dress and appearance. Said the angel, "Sabbathkeepers
will have to die to self, die to pride and love of approbation."
Truth, saving truth, must be given to the starving people who
are in darkness. I saw that many prayed for God to humble them;
but if God should answer their prayers, it would be by terrible
things in righteousness. It was their duty to humble themselves.
I saw that if self-exaltation was suffered to come in, it would
surely lead souls astray, and if not overcome would prove their
ruin. When one begins to get lifted up in his own eyes and thinks
he can do something, the Spirit of God is withdrawn, and he goes
on in his own strength until he is overthrown. I saw that one
saint, if he were right, could move the arm of God; but a multitude
together, if they were wrong, would be weak and could effect nothing.
Many have unsubdued, unhumbled hearts, and think more of their
own little grievances and trials than of the souls of sinners.
If they had the glory of God in view, they would feel for perishing
souls around them; and as they realized their perilous situation,
would take hold with energy, exercising faith in God, and hold
up the hands of His servants, that they might boldly, yet in love,
declare the truth and warn souls to lay hold upon it before the
sweet voice of mercy should die away. Said the angel, "Those
who profess His name are not ready." I saw that the seven
last plagues were coming upon the shelterless heads of the wicked;
and then those who have stood in their way will hear the bitter
reproaches of sinners, and their hearts will faint within them.
Said the angel. "Ye have been picking at straws- dwelling
upon little trials-and sinners must be lost as a consequence."
God is willing to work for us in our meetings, and it is His pleasure
to work. But Satan says, "I will hinder the work." His
agents say, "Amen." Professed believers in the truth
dwell upon their petty trials and difficulties which Satan has
magnified before them. Time is wasted that can never be recalled.
The enemies of the truth have seen our weakness, God has been
grieved, Christ wounded. Satan's object is accomplished, his plans
have succeeded, and he triumphs. -