The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials: Volume 2 - Ellen G. White

decided negative to the efforts I may make as God
shall move upon me by his holy Spirit. I have not
felt grieved as far as my personal self is concerned,
but when the work that the Lord has given me is of
such a character that faith needs to be constantly
cherished because of the warnings, reproofs and
searchings of the hearts, and the laying bare of
hidden sins is not pleasant and agreeable to the
natural heart, and many give a bare assent to truth
when they are not sanctified through the truth.
They do not in Spirit represent Christ. They are
surface workers, and delude themselves with the
idea that they are christians. So effectually does
this delusion take possession of heart and mind that
the sharp arrows of the Lord fail to penetrate the
armor of self righteousness in which they are
encased. The spell is so strong that they will listen
to the truth, the most earnest and powerful, even to
the very portraying of the delusions which are upon
them without any thought of self-examination to
see if it means them. This is the class our Saviour
found most difficult to arouse. The most
authoritative teachings were heard and listened to
as if they heard not. Thus it is with many, many in