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Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

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640 <strong>Testimonies</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong> <strong>Vol</strong>ume 1[699]this life, while you are neglecting <strong>the</strong> future, eternal life. Where is<strong>the</strong> anxiety, <strong>the</strong> earnestness, <strong>the</strong> zeal, lest you make a failure <strong>the</strong>reand sustain an immense loss? To lose a little of this world seems toyou a terrible calamity which would cost your life. But <strong>the</strong> thought oflosing heaven does not cause half <strong>the</strong> fears to be manifested. Throughyour careful ef<strong>for</strong>ts to save this life, you are in danger of losing eternallife. You cannot af<strong>for</strong>d to lose heaven, lose eternal life, lose <strong>the</strong>eternal weight of glory. You cannot af<strong>for</strong>d to lose all <strong>the</strong>se riches,this exceedingly precious, immeasurable happiness. Why do you notact like a sane man, and be as earnest, as zealous, and as perseveringin your ef<strong>for</strong>ts <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> better life, <strong>the</strong> immortal crown, <strong>the</strong> eternal,imperishable treasure, as you are <strong>for</strong> this poor, miserable life and <strong>the</strong>sepoor perishable, earthly treasures?Your heart is on your earthly treasures, <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e you have no heart<strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> heavenly. These poor things which are seen—<strong>the</strong> earthly—eclipse <strong>the</strong> glory of <strong>the</strong> heavenly. Where your treasure is, <strong>the</strong>re willyour heart be also. Your words will declare, your acts will show, whereyour treasure is. If it is in this world, <strong>the</strong> little gain of earth, youranxieties will be manifested in that direction. If you are striving <strong>for</strong><strong>the</strong> immortal inheritance with an earnestness, energy, and zeal proportionateto its value, <strong>the</strong>n can you be a fair candidate <strong>for</strong> everlasting life,and heir of glory. You need a fresh conversion every day. Die dailyto self, keep your tongue as with a bridle, control your words, ceaseyour murmurings and complaints, let not one word of censure escapeyour lips. If this requires a great ef<strong>for</strong>t, make it; you will be repaid inso doing.Your life is now miserable, full of evil <strong>for</strong>ebodings. Gloomy picturesloom up be<strong>for</strong>e you; dark unbelief has enclosed you. By talkingon <strong>the</strong> side of unbelief you have grown darker and darker; you takesatisfaction in dwelling upon unpleasant <strong>the</strong>mes. If o<strong>the</strong>rs try to talkhopefully, you crush out in <strong>the</strong>m every hopeful feeling by talking all<strong>the</strong> more earnestly and severely. Your trials and afflictions are everkeeping be<strong>for</strong>e your wife <strong>the</strong> soul-harrowing thought that you considerher a burden because of her illness. If you love darkness and despair,talk of <strong>the</strong>m, dwell upon <strong>the</strong>m, and harrow up your soul by conjuringup in your imagination everything you can to cause you to murmuragainst your family and against God, and make your own heart like a

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