Spalding and Magan's Unpublished Manuscript Testimonies - Ellen G. White

made it a practice to copy every new style of dress
in trimmings that take time and money, and there is
little difference between their apparel and that of
the worldling. Let our sisters conscientiously heed
the Word of God for themselves. Do not begin the
work of reform for others until you do; for you will
have no success; you can not possibly change the
heart. The working of the spirit of God inwardly
will show a change of dress outwardly. Those who
venture to disobey the plainest statements of
inspiration will not hear and receive, and no human
efforts made will avail to bring these idolaters to a
plain, unadorned, simple, neat proper dress, that
does not in any way make them odd or singular.
They will continue to expose themselves by
hanging out their colors to the world.
To get up a different style of dress will not
change the heart. The difficulty is that the church
needs converting daily. There are many things that
will come to try and test these poor, deluded,
world-loving souls; they will have deep trials. Let
there be no human-made test; for God has prepared
to prove them and to try them.
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