- A Word to the Reader
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- Introduction
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- The Danger of Speculative Ideas
- The Charm of New Theories
- The Need for Clear Discernment
- Fanaticism to Appear in Our Midst
- Feeling Not to Master Judgment
- Obedience Versus Emotion or Rapture
- A Call for Old-fashioned Sermons
- Cold Formalism or Fanaticism
- False Ideas of God's Blessing
- All is Quiet, Calm, Unpretending
- The Example of Christ
- A Desire to Change the Present Order
- No Oddities or Eccentricities
- God's Word to Be Uncontaminated by Fallacies
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- Seek not for Miraculous Manifestations
- When the Miracle Worker Disregards God's Law
- None Need be Deceived
- Will Sweep in the Whole World
- Miracles not a Test
- Wonderful Miracles Will Deceive
- How Satan and His Agents Work
- Ellen G. White Worked No Miracles
- Why Miracles are Less Important Today
- Miracles in the Closing Conflict
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- Introduction
- Chapter 19—An Object Lesson
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- Satisfaction and Blessing in Sacrificial Labor
- Not to Demand a Stipulated Sum
- Do the Work and Accept Wages Offered
- Pay to Be According to Labor
- Privilege of Working Versus Wages
- “An Expensive Family”
- An Appeal for Equality
- The Toll of Large Wages
- Higher Wages Proposed for Superior Men
- The Necessities and Comforts of Life
- Free From Worldly Enterprises and Conflicting Duties
- Avoid Cultivating Expensive Tastes
- Spirit of Self-Denial of Early Days Required Now
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- Procuring the Very Best Talent
- Wages for Institutional Workers
- A View of Threatening Dangers in 1890
- The Importance of Self-Denial
- A Threat to All Our Institutions
- A Characteristic Feature of the Work Imperiled
- Physicians and Ministers Called to Self-Denial
- Counsel to a Physician Regarding a Fixed Salary
- A Percentage Proposition Counseled Against
- “Do Not Exact a High Salary”
- Extravagance and Influence
- An Important Interview Regarding Physicians’ Wages
- Meeting an Emergency
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- Chapter 23—Counsel to One Who for Financial Reasons Was Planning to Leave the Work of God
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- Introduction
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- Bereavement Softens and Subdues
- We Shall See Our Children Again
- Children In the Resurrection
- Jesus Says, “Lean on Me”
- Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord
- Look to the Happy Family Reunion
- Will Be Called in Special Resurrection
- No Sin in Weeping
- He Sleeps in Jesus
- The Lord to Be Your Comfort
- Ellen White in Her Hour of Bereavement
- The Glorious Resurrection Morning
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- Introduction
- Chapter 32—Proper Attitude in Prayer
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- Chapter 34—Useful Occupation Better Than Games
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- Chapter 37—The Aged Who Have No Homes
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- Chapter 39—Counsel on Voting
- Chapter 40—Hops, Tobacco, and Swine
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- Appendix 2—Important Factors in Choosing a Life Companion
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The Fruitage of an Underhanded Work
It is essential that all shall know what atmosphere surrounds their own souls, whether they are in copartnership with the enemy of righteousness, and unconsciously doing his work, or whether they are linked up with Christ, doing His work, and seeking to establish souls more firmly in the truth.2SM 70.1
Satan would be pleased to have anyone and everyone become his allies to weaken the confidence of brother in brother, and to sow discord among those who profess to believe the truth. Satan can accomplish his purposes most successfully through professed friends of Christ who are not walking and working in Christ's lines. Those who in mind and heart are turning away from the Lord's special work for this time, those who do not cooperate with Him in establishing souls in the faith by leading them to heed His words of warning, are doing the work of the enemy of Christ.2SM 70.2
It is a most serious matter to go from house to house, and under pretense of doing missionary work, cast in the seed of mistrust and suspicion. Each one speedily germinates, and there is created a distrust of God's servants, who have His message to bear to the people. When God speaks through His servants, the seed [of mistrust and suspicion] sown has developed into a root of bitterness. The word falls upon hearts that will not hear, on hearts that will not respond. No earthly or heavenly power can find access to the soul.2SM 70.3
Who is accountable for these souls? Who shall eradicate that poisonous root of bitterness that has prevented them from receiving the word of the Lord? A good sister or a brother planted the evil seed, but how can that one restore the soul thus imperiled? The tongue that should have been used to the glory of God in speaking words of hope and faith and confidence in God's workmen has turned away a soul from Jesus Christ. Those who themselves despised the words of Christ, and refused to hear His voice and to be converted, have leavened other minds with the leaven of evil surmisings and evilspeaking.2SM 70.4
This is the day of the Lord's preparation. We have no time now to talk unbelief and to gossip, no time now to do the devil's work. Let everyone beware of unsettling the faith of others by sowing seeds of envy, jealousy, disunion; for God hears the words, and judges, not by assertions, which are yea and nay, but by the fruit one's course of action produces. “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). The seed sown will determine the character of the harvest.”—Manuscript 32a, 1896.2SM 71.1