Mind, Character, and Personality Vol. 2 - Second Advent Revival

close walk with God. Those who move without thoughtful consideration move unwisely.
They make fitful efforts, strike out here and there, catch at this and that, but it amounts
to nothing. They resemble the vine; its tendrils untrained and left to straggle out in every
direction will fasten upon any rubbish within their reach; but before the vine can be of
any use, these tendrils must be broken off from the things they have grasped and
trained to entwine about those things which will make them graceful and well
formed.--Lt 33, 1886. {2MCP 592.2}
Controlling the Imagination.--Had you trained your mind to dwell upon elevated
subjects, meditating upon
593
heavenly themes, you could have done much good. You could have had an influence
upon the minds of others to turn their selfish thoughts and world-loving dispositions into
the channel of spirituality. Were your affections and thoughts brought into subjection to
the will of Christ, you would be capable of doing good. Your imagination is diseased
because you have permitted it to run in a forbidden channel, to become dreamy.
Daydreaming and romantic castle-building have unfitted you for usefulness. You have
lived in an imaginary world; you have been an imaginary martyr and an imaginary
Christian. --2T 251 (1869). {2MCP 592.3}
Keep Off Satan's Enchanted Ground (counsel to a self-centered family).--You
should keep off Satan's enchanted ground and not allow your minds to be swayed from
allegiance to God. Through Christ you may and should be happy and should acquire
habits of self-control. Even your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of
God and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. Your imagination was
not given you to be allowed to run riot and have its own way without any effort at
restraint or discipline. If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the
thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character. When you decide that as
Christians you are not required to restrain your thoughts and feelings, you are brought
under the influence of evil angels and invite their presence and their control. If you yield
to your impressions and allow your thoughts to run in a channel of suspicion, doubt,
and repining, you will be among the most unhappy of mortals, and your lives will prove
a failure.--5T 310 (1885). {2MCP 593.1}
Seeing Life as It Is.--Unless you view life as it is, cast aside the brilliant fancies of
imagination, and come down to the sober lessons of experience, you will awake when it
is too late. You will then realize the terrible mistake you have made.--3T 43 (1872).
594 {2MCP 593.2}
Acquisitiveness Creates Imaginary Wants.--The case of Brother I is fearful. This
world is his god; he worships money. . . . He needs the censure of none but the pity of
all. His life has been a terrible mistake. He has suffered imaginary pecuniary want while
surrounded with plenty. Satan has taken possession of his mind and, exciting his organ