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

you to work upon the hearts you are trying to
reach, and so soften them by heavenly impressions
that your efforts may avail. If any good is
accomplished, take no credit to yourself. God alone
should be exalted. God alone has done it all.
You have excused yourself for speaking evil of
your brother or sister or neighbor to others before
going to him and taking the steps which God has
absolutely commanded. You say: "Why, I did not
speak to anyone until I was so burdened that I
could not refrain." What burdened you? Was it not
a plain neglect of your own duty, of a thus saith the
Lord? You were under the guilt of sin because you
did not go and tell the offender his fault between
you and him alone. If you did not do this, if you
disobeyed God, how could you be otherwise than
burdened unless your heart was hardened while
you were trampling the command of God
underfoot, and in your heart hating your brother or
neighbor? And what way have you found to
unburden yourself? God reproves you for a sin of
omission in not telling your brother his fault, and
you excuse and comfort yourself by a sin of
79