Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

504 Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[546]weakness and failings it was impossible for you to maintain a life ofdevotion. I was shown that your wife and eldest daughter have beenyour good angels, to grieve over you, to encourage you to resist in ameasure the powerful suggestions of Satan; and through your love forthem you have been induced to try again to fix your trembling faithupon the promises of God. Satan is waiting to overthrow you that hemay exult over your downfall. Those who are trampling underfoot thelaw of God are strengthened by you in their rebellion. It is impossiblefor you to be strong until you take a decided stand for the truth.Systematic benevolence looks to you as needless; you overlookthe fact that it originated with God, whose wisdom is unerring. Thisplan He ordained to save confusion, to correct covetousness, avarice,selfishness, and idolatry. This system was to cause the burden to restlightly, yet with due weight, upon all. The salvation of man cost adear price, even the life of the Lord of glory, which He freely gaveto lift man from degradation and to exalt him to become heir of theworld. God has so ordained that man shall aid his fellow man in thegreat work of redemption. He who excuses himself from this, whois unwilling to deny himself that others may become partakers withhim of the heavenly benefit, proves himself unworthy of the life tocome, unworthy of the heavenly treasure which cost so great a sacrifice.God wants no unwilling offering, no pressed sacrifice. Those whoare thoroughly converted and who appreciate the work of God willgive cheerfully the little required of them, considering it a privilege tobestow.Said the angel: “Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against thesoul.” You have stumbled at the health reform. It appears to you tobe a needless appendix to the truth. It is not so; it is a part of thetruth. Here is a work before you which will come closer and be moretrying than anything which has yet been brought to bear upon you.While you hesitate and stand back, failing to lay hold upon the blessingwhich it is your privilege to receive, you suffer loss. You are stumblingover the very blessing which Heaven has placed in your path to makeyour progress less difficult. Satan presents this before you in the mostobjectionable light, that you may combat that which would prove thegreatest benefit to you, which would be for your physical and spiritualhealth. Of all men you are one to be benefited by health reform; thetruth received on every point in this matter of reform will be of the