The
Substance of Moral Character
Not
boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but
having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you.
2 Cor. 10:15.
You should keep off from Satan's enchanted ground and not allow your minds
to be swayed from allegiance to God. Through Christ you may and should be
happy and should acquire habits of self-control. Even your thoughts must be
brought into subjection to the will of God and your feelings under the control
of reason and religion. Your imagination was not given you to be allowed to
run riot and have its own way without any effort at restraint or discipline.
If the thoughts are wrong the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and
feelings combined make up the moral character. . . . If you yield to your
impressions and allow your thoughts to run in a channel of suspicion, doubt,
and repining you will be among the most unhappy of mortals. . . .
Dear Sister
F, you have a diseased imagination; and you dishonor God by allowing your
feelings to have complete control of your reason and judgment. You have a
determined will, which causes the mind to react upon the body, unbalancing
the circulation and producing congestion in certain organs; and you are sacrificing
health to your feelings.
You are
making a mistake, which, if not corrected, will not end with wrecking your
own happiness merely. You are doing positive injury, not only to yourself,
but to the other members of your family. . . . You have . . . let your highly
wrought imagination control reason. . . . Had you no power over your feelings,
this would not be sin; but it will not answer thus to yield to the enemy.
Your will needs to be sanctified and subdued instead of being arrayed in opposition
to that of God. . . .
Man has been placed in a world of sorrow, care, and perplexity. He is placed
here to be tested and proved, as were Adam and Eve, that he may develop a
right character and bring harmony out of discord and confusion. There is much
for us to do that is essential. . . . And there is much for us to enjoy. Through
Christ we are brought into connection with God. His mercies place us under
continual obligation; feeling unworthy of His favors, we are to appreciate
even the least of them.
From Maranatha - Page 223
