If we were all angels, we might congratulate each other on our heavenly attainments, our many graces and faultless characters. There would then be no need of reproofs, rebukes and exhortations. But we are not yet in that state. We are yet in a world where evil besets us on every hand; where we have a continual conflict with the world the flesh and the Devil; where sins need to be rebuked, faults reproved and wrongs made right. We are in the fitting-up time, and going through the fitting-up process. We need to be scored and hewed as timber for the heavenly building. As lively stones, we need to be polished, a rough projection knocked off here and there, and the rough surface ground down smooth. As the precious metal we need to be kept in the crucible, till the dross is all consumed, and the great Refiner can see his perfect image reflected from his work. This is the day of God's preparation; not only his preparation to do a strange work in the earth, close up this dispensation, and establish the glorious Kingdom of his Son; but it is also the time of preparation with the church, when they are to prepare for translation into the coming Kingdom. Never, therefore, was it more necessary than at the present hour when we are rapidly nearing the time that will put our characters to the searching test, never was it more necessary than now, that God's servants should deal with an unsparing hand with the wrongs and short comings of his people. The Lord give his servants a testimony for the people, and them a heart not to shrink, oppose, and rebel, but to receive and profit by it, and aid us all in the work of preparation for the great day of the Lord which is near and hasteth greatly.