Extract from an Unpublished Testimony Written March 13, 1897

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The word of God must be our authority in all things. The testimony of David in this respect was, «Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep Thy words. I entreated Thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to Thy word. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies. I made haste and delayed not to keep Thy commandments. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten Thy law. At midnight I will arise to give thanks unto Thee because of Thy righteous judgments.»

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How is the Lord the portion of His people? He can be such to them only when they choose Him above everything earthly and temporal. But there are very many who prefer every other portion rather than the heavenly treasure. This is not appreciated. They prize more highly the selfish pleasures that minister only to the gratification of self. They consider the possession of lands, of houses, and of money, the most desirable prize they can gain: for they know that when once these are in their hands, they will receive the esteem and favor of the world. The standard of the world estimates a man according to his money value. This certainly can raise him to position and honor as far as the world is concerned, but it can never give him true value of character.

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Those who exercise true faith in Jesus Christ will be blessed with sharp discernment. Everything connected with truth and righteousness will be precious in His sight. The knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, will lead man to place a high value on every faculty given him of God. He will have a keen sense of his obligation to keep these intrusted treasures in the most wholesome condition, that he may ever discern the value of God, and choose Him as his portion forever.

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The privilege bestowed upon us in doing service for Christ is the highest exaltation that can be given to the human agent. And God desires that man shall choose Him as the portion of his soul. Without this decided acceptance of the heavenly gift, in preference to any other that the world can give, Christ’s followers can never be one with Him, as He is one with the Father.

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Consider the wondrous power of our God, and then call to mind His love for fallen man. He «so loved the world, that He have His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.» How can man, for whom God has done so much, for whom Christ has given His life, continue in his perversity? Can we wonder that at the close of the thousand years, all who have refused to accept Him shall be destroyed with fire from heaven outside the city of God? God declares that this shall be so. He says, «Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. . . . And I will punish the world for their evil; and the wicked for their iniquity, and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and I will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.»

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I love Jesus. I tremble at the word of God. I am seeking to hide myself in the cleft of the rock, that I may behold His holiness of character. God has a people, and I want to be among them. I want, too, that you shall be among them. And if you will, without any reservation, give up your way and will to God, you may. The Spirit calls to-day. There is hope still.

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The church of God, enfeebled and defective though it is through yielding to temptation, is the only object upon earth on which He bestows His supreme regard. His interest, with all the interest of the heavenly host, is all with His people, who, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, are to shine as lights in the world. His Holy Spirit is giving rich and constant supplies of grace for every emergency. Not one needs to stumble, for Christ has said, «He that followeth Me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.»

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Satan has a church upon the earth, which outnumbers the church of Christ. Christ calls it the «Synagogue of Satan,» because its members are the children of sin and transgression. They have ceased to honor God; they have cast His divine law aside; they have confounded the distinction between good and evil. But the world’s Redeemer will have a church in which these essential differences will be made apparent, where the character of God will be represented. In marked contrast to the character of Satan, the beauty of holiness will be exemplified, the loveliness of truth shine forth in life and practice. Its members will love, honor, and glorify God, whom the world has despised. These are the fruits by which they are known to the world; these will have the superscription of heaven, by which all men may know that they are Christ’s disciples. [To be continued.]

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Through Jesus Christ, God has made every provision that His people may connect with divine agencies, and that these agencies may cooperate with human instrumentalities. They may reveal to a world that is dead in trespasses and sins, the power and sufficiency of Christ. They will present before the world another world of higher, holier laws than worldly-wise men can invent or earth obey, a purer happiness and joy than earth can give to its votaries, coming through a service that is independent of all human inventions.

Extract From An Unpublished Testimony Written March 13, 1897

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Christ’s church on earth is to resemble heaven, a temple built after the pattern of things shown in the holy mount. Man must give up his ideas, his plans, and devices, and let God work out His original intentions. The great Designer must not he impeded in His work by human wisdom. His work and purpose have not been understood. Through the miscalculations of man, the church to-day is so misshapen that it can not be accepted by the great Builder. Human counsel has been so abundant, that individual experience is rare. Men are placed where God should be. God’s plans are turned aside, and men’s measures brought in to fashion and mould. But the great and perfect Designer pronounces the work imperfect. The temple that He is building after the pattern of things in the heavens must have the exact proportions assigned it by the Architect, whose pattern is without a flaw. He has brought the golden measuring rod from heaven, and every worker is employed only as he works under His superintendence, and according to His plans.

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There must be no human calculations. God will have as workers, only those who will be laborers together with Him, who will yoke up with Christ, and learn of Him meekness and lowliness of heart. His directions are, » Make everything according to the pattern shown thee in the mount.» Then a temple of heavenly design will be presented to the world, where the divine presence is manifested, and to which is affixed God’s seal.

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What has Jesus, the precious Saviour of the world done, that human, finite beings should put Him to open shame, and thus crucify Him afresh? Satan has remarkable power over all who open their hearts to temptation. But the mind, the character, the reason, belong to God. Christ is saying, «Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you.» But you are saying, «I will not do as Christ has said. I will seek my own interest first; I want none of God’s ways.»

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While you thus co-operate with Satan, he walks by your side. He says, «Whatever may be true in regard to life eternal, in order to make a success of business, you must serve me. I hold your welfare in my hands. Riches, pleasure, honor, and happiness I can give you. If you will hearken only to my counsel, you will succeed. You can not be successful if you allow yourself to be carried away with any whimsical notions. I will prepare the way before you.» These are Satan’s temptations. But will any turn away for this from God and heaven, thrusting eternity out of your reckoning, working like a slave in the service of Satan? Will it pay to do this?

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Like Christ, every man has had offered to him the kingdoms of this world if he will acknowledge the supremacy of Satan. And how many are doing this before the universe of heavenly intelligences, before God their Creator, and Jesus Christ their Redeemer? But suppose all of Satan’s alluring temptations were just as he presents them, will you, even if you knew that by assenting to them you would gain the whole world, be so infatuated, so bewitched as to sacrifice your hope of heaven, your spiritual and immortal interests for mere worldly advantages?

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You have another life than that which you live in this world. You are to consider this, and live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Happiness and success are the prospects presented before you if you will work in Christ’s lines. But how many are saying, «I will not accept the conditions. I will have my own way and will in the matter.» I warn you that if you keep on in this course, you will have all your own way with all it implies. This is nothing less than the loss of your soul. But for all who, for their Saviour’s sake, will make any and every sacrifice, even to want, and hunger, and death, there awaits the crown of eternal life that Paul was seeking for, and an eternal weight of glory.

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Then no longer neglect this great salvation, as many of us are most assuredly doing. Your salvation has been purchased by the Lord Jesus, in giving His life for you. It will be found that there are some things worse than temporal death. It is better for a soul to die, than to sin; better to be in poverty and suffer hunger than to do a dishonest action. Should your success be purchased at so fearful a price as surrender to the control of Satan, you will find perplexities and embarrassments you never dreamed of. His presentations of worldly attractions are as a deceitful mirage, terrible as his own character, fearful as hell.