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Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2 - Ellen G. White

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imitate His life of self-sacrifice and self-denial, to<br />

be interested in <strong>the</strong> great work of <strong>the</strong> redemption of<br />

<strong>the</strong> fallen race. You have no just sense of <strong>the</strong> work<br />

that God requires you to per<strong>for</strong>m. Christ is your<br />

pattern. That in which you are deficient is love.<br />

This pure and holy principle distinguishes <strong>the</strong><br />

character and conduct of Christians from those of<br />

worldlings. Divine love has a powerful, purifying<br />

influence. It is to be found only in renewed hearts,<br />

and naturally flows out to <strong>the</strong>ir fellow men.<br />

"Love one ano<strong>the</strong>r," says our Saviour, "as I<br />

have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this,<br />

that a man lay down his life <strong>for</strong> his friends." Christ<br />

has given us an example of pure, disinterested love.<br />

You have not as yet seen your deficiency in this<br />

respect, and your great need of this heavenly<br />

attainment, without which all your good purposes,<br />

and your zeal, even if it be of that nature that you<br />

could give your goods to feed <strong>the</strong> poor and your<br />

body to be burned, is nothing. You need that<br />

charity which suffereth long, is not easily<br />

provoked, beareth all things, believeth all things,<br />

hopeth all things, endureth all things. Without <strong>the</strong><br />

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