Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

in themselves humble dignity of bearing. They should be clothed in a manner befittingthe dignity of their position. Their speech should be in every respect solemn and wellchosen. I was shown that it is wrong to make coarse, irreverent expressions, relateanecdotes to amuse, or present comic illustrations to create a laugh. Sarcasm andplaying upon the words of an opponent are all out of God’s order. Ministers should notfeel that they can make no improvement in voice or manners; much can be done. Thevoice can be cultivated so that quite lengthy speaking will not injure the vocal organs.Ministers should love order and should discipline themselves, and then they cansuccessfully discipline the church of God and teach them to work harmoniously like awell-drilled company of soldiers. If discipline and order are necessary for successfulaction on the battlefield, the same are as much more needful in the warfare in which weare engaged as the object to be gained is of greater value and more elevated in characterthan those for which opposing forces contend upon the field of battle. In the conflict inwhich we are engaged, eternal interests are at stake.Angels work harmoniously. Perfect order characterizes all their movements. Themore closely we imitate the harmony and order of the angelic host, the more successfulwill be the efforts of these heavenly agents in our behalf. If we see no necessity forharmonious action, and are disorderly, undisciplined, and disorganized in our courseof action, angels, who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order, cannotwork for us successfully. They turn away in grief, for they are not authorized to blessconfusion, distraction, and disorganization. All who desire the co-operation of theheavenly messengers must work in unison with them. Those who have the unctionfrom on high will in all their efforts encourage order, discipline, and union of action,and then the angels of God can co-operate with them. But never, never will these649