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

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sacrifice and of devotion to <strong>the</strong> cause of God,<br />

making <strong>the</strong> truth and <strong>the</strong> salvation of <strong>the</strong> soul<br />

primary, <strong>the</strong>n your influence will bring o<strong>the</strong>rs into<br />

<strong>the</strong> same position of self-sacrifice and devotion, to<br />

make <strong>the</strong> kingdom of heaven and <strong>the</strong> righteousness<br />

of Christ first. You feel authorized to advantage<br />

yourself from <strong>the</strong> cause. Your brethren, from <strong>the</strong><br />

liberality of <strong>the</strong>ir souls, favor and help you in<br />

various ways, and you receive it as a matter of<br />

course, as your due. And if any are not perfectly<br />

free with you, and do not favor you, you are<br />

jealous, and do not scruple to let <strong>the</strong>m understand<br />

that you are not appreciated, and that <strong>the</strong>y are<br />

selfish. You frequently refer to o<strong>the</strong>rs who have<br />

done thus and so by you, as examples that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

should imitate. These who have especially favored<br />

you have gone beyond <strong>the</strong>ir duty. You have not<br />

earned <strong>the</strong>ir confidence or <strong>the</strong>ir liberalities. You<br />

have had no heavy burdens to bear in this cause,<br />

and you have cast on o<strong>the</strong>rs many more burdens<br />

than you have lifted; yet you have been gaining in<br />

property, and obtaining <strong>the</strong> good things of this life,<br />

and you regard it all as your right. Though you<br />

have received your weekly wages, you have not<br />

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