Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

of the truth. Angels must be near them to guide, to counsel, and to restrain, or thewisdom and folly of human agencies will be apparent.I saw that angels were frequently in the office, in the folding room, and in the roomwhere the type is set. I was made to hear the laughing, the jesting, the idle, foolishtalking. Again, I saw the vanity, the pride and selfishness exhibited. Angels lookedsad and turned away grieved. The words I had heard, the vanity, pride, and selfishnessexhibited, caused me to groan with anguish of spirit as angels left the room in disgust.Said an angel: “The heavenly messengers came to bless, that the truth carried by thevoiceless preachers might have a sanctifying, holy power to attend its mission; butthose engaged in this work were so distant from God, they possessed so little of thedivine, and were so conformed to the spirit of the world, that the powers of darknesscontrolled them, and they could not be made susceptible of divine impressions.” Atthe same time these youth were deceived and thought they were rich and increased ingoods and had need of nothing, and knew not that they were poor and miserable, blindand naked. Those who handle precious truth as they would sand know not how manytimes their heartless indifference to eternal things, their vanity, self-love, and pride,their laughing and senseless chatting, have driven the messengers of heaven away fromthe office.In deportment, words, and acts all in that office should be reserved, modest,humble, and disinterested, as was their Pattern, Jesus, the dear Saviour. They shouldseek God and obtain righteousness. The office is not the place for sport, for visiting,for idlers, for laughing or useless words. All should feel that they are doing a workfor their Master. These truths which they read, which they act their part to prepare tosend out to the people, are invitations of mercy, are reproofs, threatenings, warnings,or encouragements. These are doing their work as a savor of life unto life, or of deathunto death. If591