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

that you should love them; but it is not right to give
them the place in your affections that the Lord
claims. They have kind impulses and generous
purposes. They possess noble traits of character. If
they would only see their need of a Saviour, and
bow at the foot of the cross, they might exert an
influence for good. They are now lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God. They now stand
in the enemy's ranks, under the black banner of
Satan. Jesus invites them to come to Him, to leave
the ranks of the enemy, and to stand under the
bloodstained banner of the cross of Christ.
This will look to them like a work they cannot
perform, for it will require too much self-denial.
They have no experimental knowledge of the way.
Those who have engaged in their country's warfare,
and been subjected to the hardships, toils, and
perils of a soldier's life, should be the last to
hesitate and manifest cowardice in this great
warfare for everlasting life. In this case they will be
fighting for a crown of life and an immortal
inheritance. Their wages will be sure, and when the
war is over their gain will be everlasting life,
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