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

unerring Pattern. A perfect example has been given
for Christians to imitate. The words and works of
Christ's followers are the channel through which
the pure principles of truth and holiness are
conveyed to the world. His followers are the salt of
the earth, the light of the world.
Sister E, you cannot realize the many blessings
you have lost by making the failings of others a
balm to soothe your conscience for a neglect of
your duty. You have been measuring yourself by
others. Their crooked paths, their failings, have
been your textbook. But their errors, their follies
and sins, do not make your disobedience to God
less sinful. We regret that those who should be a
strength to you in your efforts to overcome your
love of self, your pride of heart, your vanity and
love of the approbation of worldlings, have been
only a hindrance by their own lack of spirituality
and true godliness. We cannot tell you how much
we regret that those who should be self-denying
Christians are so far from coming up to the
standard. Those who should be steadfast,
abounding in the work of God, are weakened by
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