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

which transforms selfish human beings into the
divine image, and God is honored, His name
glorified. But the Lord is dishonored and His cause
reproached by His people's being in bondage to the
world. They are in friendship with the world, the
enemies of God. Their only hope of salvation is to
separate from the world and zealously maintain
their separate, holy, and peculiar character Oh!
why will not God's people comply with the
conditions laid down in His word? If they would do
this they would not fail to realize the excellent
blessings freely given of God to the humble and
obedient.
I was amazed as I beheld the terrible darkness
of many of the members of our churches. The lack
of true godliness was such that they were bodies of
darkness and death, instead of being the light of the
world. Many professed to love God, but in works
denied Him. They did not love, serve, nor obey
Him. Their own selfish interests were primary.
With a large number there seemed to be an
alarming lack of principle. They were swayed by
unconsecrated influence and seemed to have no
794