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    Epistle Number Five

    Dear Bro. ——: I have a few things pressing upon my mind, which I have felt it duty to write to Bro. —— and yourself. I have related the substance of it before you; but as a few things burden my mind, I will write.T19 88.2

    I was shown that with you, I and mine have come to be first. You have had so great a care for yourself that the Lord has had no room to work for you. You have given him no chance. He has, in a great measure, given Bro. —— and yourself up to work according to your own judgment, that you might be convinced that your wisdom is foolishness. You have not worked for the interest of the widow and fatherless, as the Lord has especially enjoined upon his followers; neither have you made the cases of the Lord's poor your own, taking a special interest in them, nor sought to glorify God, and magnify his name; therefore, the Lord has suffered you and Bro. —— to pursue a course of your own choosing. He has permitted you to look out for yourselves. Your own selfish interests have been the foundation of your actions; and you will reap the harvest you yourselves have sown. I saw that you would verily receive the reward that sooner or later follows the serving of your own selfish interest. “Give an account of thy stewardship,” must be heard by you. You are accountable to God for the work entrusted to you, which has been shamefully neglected, in order to serve yourselves.T19 89.1

    Had you been seeking to show yourselves approved unto God, seeking the kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness of Christ, you would have been doing the works of Christ. The poor, the widows, the fatherless, would have called forth from you the tenderest pity and sympathy, and you would have been interested in them, and treated them as you would wish your wife and children treated, were they left dependent and afflicted upon the cold mercies of the world, or unfeeling, heartless, professed Christians.T19 89.2

    There has been on your part a sad, unfeeling, heartless neglect of the unfortunate. You have served your own interest, irrespective of their great need. God cannot bless you till you see your sin in regard to these things.T19 90.1

    I saw that the Lord's work has not been more sacred in your eyes, than your own business. Eternal things have not been discerned, although the Lord has sent warnings and reproofs to arouse you to a sense of your duty by letting you know what is expected of you. You have not regarded these warnings. You have not realized that you were dealing with God. You have robbed God, and served yourselves.T19 90.2

    There are many who in good faith have sent in to that Office means which they have had to make a sacrifice to obtain. Some, both men and women, have worked very hard, and consecrated the means obtained by hard labor and the closest economy, to the Lord, and have sent it to the Office to advance his cause. Poor widows have sent nearly their whole dependence, trusting in God to take care of them, and the means have been consecrated with prayers and tears, yet sent with joyfulness, they feeling that they were aiding in the great work of saving souls. Poor families have sold their only cow, denying themselves and their little children of milk, feeling that they were making a sacrifice for God. They have put their means in the Office in good faith. Selfishness and mismanagement have helped to squander this means. God holds those accountable, who have had the handling of it. “Give an account of thy stewardship,” will soon be heard. May the Lord help you to free yourselves from every blemish.T19 90.3

    E. G. W.

    Battle Creek, Mich., Jan. 17, 1870.

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