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

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increased to rise higher in eternal enjoyment, and<br />

thus continue to receive new and greater supplies<br />

from <strong>the</strong> ceaseless sources of glory and bliss<br />

inexpressible,—could such persons, I ask, mingle<br />

with <strong>the</strong> heavenly throng, participate in <strong>the</strong>ir songs,<br />

and endure <strong>the</strong> pure, exalted, transporting glory<br />

that emanates from God and <strong>the</strong> Lamb? Oh, no!<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir probation was leng<strong>the</strong>ned <strong>for</strong> years that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

might learn <strong>the</strong> language of heaven, that <strong>the</strong>y might<br />

become "partakers of <strong>the</strong> divine nature, having<br />

escaped <strong>the</strong> corruption that is in <strong>the</strong> world through<br />

lust." But <strong>the</strong>y had a selfish business of <strong>the</strong>ir own<br />

to engage <strong>the</strong> powers of <strong>the</strong>ir minds and <strong>the</strong><br />

energies of <strong>the</strong>ir beings. They could not af<strong>for</strong>d to<br />

serve God unreservedly and make this a business.<br />

Worldly enterprises must come first and take <strong>the</strong><br />

best of <strong>the</strong>ir powers, and a transient thought is<br />

devoted to God. Are such to be trans<strong>for</strong>med after<br />

<strong>the</strong> final decision: "He that is holy, let him be holy<br />

still," "he which is filthy, let him be filthy still"?<br />

Such a time is coming.<br />

Those who have trained <strong>the</strong> mind to delight in<br />

spiritual exercises are <strong>the</strong> ones who can be<br />

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