Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

love and the assurance of sins forgiven, than you would by spending many hours anddays in studying the most able authors, and making yourself acquainted with everyobjection to our faith, and with the most powerful evidences in its favor.The reason why our preachers accomplish so little is that they do not walk withGod. He is a day’s journey from most of them. The more closely you watch yourown heart, the more watchful and guarded you will be, lest by your words or acts youdishonor the truth, give occasion for the tongue of slander to follow you and the truth,and cause souls to be lost through your neglect of self-examination, of heart study, andof vital godliness. The holy deportment of the minister of Christ should be a rebuketo vain, frothy professors. The beams of truth and holiness shining from your serious,heavenly conversation will convict others and lead them to the truth, and those aroundyou will be compelled to say, God is with this man, of a truth. It is the carelessness andlooseness of professed ministers of Christ that gives them so little influence. There aremany professors, but there are few praying men. If our preachers were men who prayedmore in secret, who carried their preaching into practice in their families, who ruledtheir houses with dignity and gravity, their light would indeed shine to those aroundthem.Brother Hull, I have been shown that if you would dedicate yourself to God, holdcommunion with Him, meditate much, watch your failings, mourn and lament beforethe Lord in the deepest humility on account of them, relying upon Him for strength,you would be in the most profitable business in which you were ever engaged; for youwould be drinking at a living fountain, and could then give others to drink from thatsame fountain which revived and strengthened you.Dear brother, unless there is a change in your Christian character, you will fail ofeverlasting life; for our busy foe will lay his snares for your feet, and if you are notnear to God, you will fall into the net. You feel restless and uneasy, and434