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37 - The Scriptures a Safeguard - The Great Controversy · Sacred Texts Archive

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Chapter thirty seven. The Scriptures a safeguard to the law and to the testimony.
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If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is
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no light in them. The people of God are directed to the scriptures as
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their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of
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darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of
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the Bible, for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of
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God's work, the Prince of Evil is aroused to more intense activity. He
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is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and his
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followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is
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to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble
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the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy
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Scriptures. By their testimony, every statement in every miracle must be tested.
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Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided.
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They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before
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them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in his word.
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They can honor him only as they have a right conception of his character,
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government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those
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who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the
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last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test. Shall I
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obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand.
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Are our feet planted on the rock of God's immutable word? Are we prepared
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to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
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Before his crucifixion, the Savior explained to his disciples that he was to
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be put to death and to rise again from the tomb, and angels present
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to impress his words on minds and hearts. But the disciples were looking for
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temporal deliverance from the Roman yoke, and they could not tolerate the thought that
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he in whom all their hopes centered should suffer an ignominious death. The words
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which they needed to remember were banished from their minds, and when the time
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of trial came, it found them unprepared. The death of Jesus as fully
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destroyed their hopes, as if he had not forewarned them. So in the
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prophecies, the future is opened before us as plainly as it was opened to
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the disciples by the words of Christ. The events connected with the close of
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probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble are clearly presented.
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But multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths than if they had never
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been revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression that would make them wise
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unto salvation, and the time of trouble will find them unready. When God
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sends to men war so important that they are represented as proclaimed by holy angels
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flying in the midst of heaven, he requires every person endowed with reasoning powers
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to heed the message. The fearful judgments denounced against the worship of the Beast
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and his image should lead all to a diligent study of the prophecies to learn
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what the mark of the Beast is and how they are to avoid receiving it.
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But the masses of the people turn away their ears from hearing the truth
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and are turned unto fables. The apostle Paul declared, looking down to the
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last days, the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.
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That time has fully come. The multitudes do not want Bible truth because it
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interferes with the desires of the sinful world loving heart, and Satan supplies the
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deceptions which they love. But God will have a people upon the earth to
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maintain the Bible, and the Bible only as the standard of all doctrines and
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the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of
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science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils as numerous and discordant as are
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the churches which they represent the voice of the majority. Not one nor all
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of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith.
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Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain. Thus
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saith the Lord in its support Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man
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in the place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops,
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to pastors, to professors of theology as their guides instead of searching the scriptures
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to learn their duty for themselves. Then by controlling the minds of these leaders,
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he can influence the multitudes. According to his will. When Christ came
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to speak the words of life, the common people heard him gladly, and
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many even of the priests and rulers believed on him. But the chief of
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the priesthood and the leading men of the nation were determined to condemn and repudiate
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his death teachings. Though they were baffled in all their efforts to find accusations
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against him, though they could not but feel the influence of the divine power
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and wisdom attending his words, yet they encased themselves in prejudice. They rejected
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the clearest evidence of his messiahship, lest they should be forced to become his
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disciples. These opponents of Jesus were men whom the people had been taught from
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infancy to reverence, to whose authority they had been accustomed implicitly to bow.
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How is it they asked that our rulers and learn its scribes do not believe
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on Jesus. Would not these pious men receive him if he were the Christ?
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It was the influence of such teachers that led the Jewish nation to reject
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their redeemer. The spirit which actuated those priests and rulers is still manifested by
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many who make a high profession of piety. They refused to examine the testimony
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of the scriptures concerning the special truths for this time. They point to their
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own numbers, wealth, and popularity, and look with contempt upon the advocates
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of truth as few, poor and unpopular, having a faith that separates them
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from the world. Christ foresaw that the undue assumption of authority indulged by the
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scribes and Pharisees would not cease with the dispersion of the Jews. He had
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a prophetic view of the work of exalting human authority to rule the conscience,
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which has been so terrible a curse to the Church in all ages, and
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his fearful denunciations of the scribes and Pharisees, and his warnings to the people
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not to follow these blind leaders, were placed on record as an admonition to
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future generations. The Roman Church reserves to the clergy the right to interpret the
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scriptures, on the ground that ecclesiastics alone are competent to explain God's word.
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It is withheld from the common people. Though the Reformation gave the scriptures to
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all, yet the self same principle which was maintained by Rome preventsimble titudes and
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Protestant churches from searching the Bible for themselves. They are taught to accept its
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teachings as interpreted by the Church, and there are thousands who dare receive nothing,
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however plainly revealed in Scripture, that is contrary to their creed or the
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established teaching of their church. Notwithstanding the Bible is full of warnings against false
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teachers. Many are ready, thus to commit the keeping of their souls to
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the clergy. There are to day thousands of professors of religion who can give
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no other reason for points of faith which they hold than that they were so
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instructed by their religious leaders. They pass by the Saviour's teachings almost unnoticed,
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and place implicit confidence in the words of the ministers. But our ministers infallible.
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How can we trust our souls to their guidance unless we know from God's
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word that they are light bearers. A lack of moral courage to step aside
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from the beaten track of the world leads many to follow in the steps of
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learned men, and by their reluctance to investigate for themselves, they are becoming
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hopelessly fastened in the chains of error. They see that the truth for this
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time is plainly brought to view in the Bible, and they feel the power
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of the Holy Spirit attending its proclamation. Yet they allow the opposition of the
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clergy to turn them from the light. Though reason and conscience are convinced,
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these deluded souls dare not think differently from the minister and their individual judgment.
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Their eternal interests are sacrificed to the unbelief, the pride and prejudice of another.
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Many are the ways by which Satan works, through human influence to bind
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his captives. He secures multitudes to himself by attaching them by the silken cords
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of affection to those who are enemies of the Cross of Christ. Whatever this
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attachment may be parental, filial, conjugal, or social, the effect is
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the same. The opposers of truth exert their power to control the conscience,
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and the souls held under their sway have not sufficient courage or independence to obey
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their own convictions of duty. The truth and the glory of God are inseparable.
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It is impossible for us, with the Bible within our reach, to
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honor God. By erroneous opinions. Many claim that it matters not what one
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believes. If his life is only right, but the life is molded by
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the faith. If light and truth is within our reach, and we neglect
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to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it, we virtually reject it.
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We are choosing darkness rather than light. There is a way that seemeth right
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unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Ignorance
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is no excuse for error or sin when there is every opportunity to know the
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will of God. A man is traveling and comes to a place where there
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are several roads and a guide board indicating where each one leads. If he
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disregards the guide board and takes whichever seems to him to be right, he
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may be ever so sincere, but will in all probability find himself on the
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wrong road. God has given us his word that we may become acquainted with
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its teachings and know for ourselves what He requires of us. When the lawyer
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came to Jesus with the inquiry what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
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The Savior referred him to the scriptures, saying, what is written in the
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law, how readest thou Ignorance will not excuse young or old, nor release
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them from the punishment due for the transgression of God's law, because there is
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in their hands a faithful presentation of that law and of its principles and its
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claims. It is not enough to have good intentions. It is not enough
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to do what a man thinks is right, or what the minister tells him
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is right. His sole's salvation is at stake, and he should search the
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scriptures for himself. However strong may be his convictions, however confident he may
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be. The minister knows what is truth. This is not his foundation.
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He has a chart pointing out every way mark on the heavenward journey, and
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he ought not to guess at anything. It is the first and highest duty
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of every rational being to learn from the scriptures what is truth, and then
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to walk in the light and encourage others to follow his example. We should,
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day by day study the Bible, diligently, weighing every thought and comparing
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scripture with scripture. With divine help, we are to form our opinions for
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ourselves, as we are to answer for ourselves before God. The truths most
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plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved in doubt and darkness by learned men,
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who, with a pretense of great wisdom, teach that the scriptures have
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a mystical, a secret spiritual meaning not apparent in the language employed. These
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men are false teachers. It was to such a class that Jesus declared,
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ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God. The language of
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the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or
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figure is employed. Christ has given the promise, if any man will do
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his will, he shall know of the doctrine. If men would but take
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the Bible as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and
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confuse their minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad,
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and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now
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wandering in error. We should exert all the powers of the mind in the
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study of the scriptures, and should task the understanding to comprehend as far as
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mortals can the deep things of God. Yet we must not forget that the
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docility and submission of a child is the true spirit of the learner. Scriptural
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difficulties can never be mastered by the same methods that are employed in grappling with
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philosophical problems. We should not engage in the study of the Bible with that
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self reliance with which so many enter the domains of science, but with a
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prayerful dependence upon God and a sincere desire to learn His will. We must
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come with a humble and teachable spirit to obtain knowledge from the Great I Am.
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Otherwise evil angels will so blind our minds and harden our hearts that we
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shall not be impressed by the truth. Many A portion of scripture which learned
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men pronounce a mystery or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and
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instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason
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why many theologians have no clear understanding of God's word is they close their eyes
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to truths which they do not wish to practice. An understanding of Bible truth
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depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on
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the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness. The Bible should never
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be studied without prayer. The Holy Spirit alone can cause us to feel the
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importance of those things easy to be understood or prevent us from resting truths difficult
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of comprehension. It is the office of heavenly angels to prepare the heart so
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to comprehend God's word, that we shall be charmed with its beauty, admonished
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by its warnings, or animated and strengthened by its promises. We should make
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the Psalmist's petition our own. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold
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wondrous things out of thy law. Temptations often appear irresistible, because through neglect
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of prayer and the study of the Bible, the tempted one cannot readily remember
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God's promises and meet Satan with the scripture weapons. But angels are round about
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those who are willing to be taught in divine things, and in the time
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of great necessity, they will bring to their remembrance to the very truths which
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are needed. Thus, when the enemy shall come in like a flood,
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the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Jesus promised
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his disciples the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
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send in my name. He shall teach you all things and bring all things
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to your remembrance. Whatsoever I have said unto you. But the teachings of
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Christ must previously have been stored in the mind in order for the Spirit of
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God to bring them to our remembrance. In the time of peril, Thy
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word have I hid in mine heart, said David, that I might not
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sin against thee. All who value their eternal interests should be on their guard
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against the inroads of skepticism. The very pillars of truth will be assailed.
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It is impossible to keep beyond the reach of the sarcasms and sophisms, the
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insidious and pestilent teachings of modern infidelity. Satan adapts his temptations to all classes.
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He assails the illiterate with a jest or sneer, while he meets the
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educated with scientific objections and philosophical reasoning alike, calculated to excite distrust or contempt
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of the scriptures. Even youth of little experience presumed to insinuate doubts concerning the
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fundamental principles of Christianity, and this youthful infidelity, shallow as it is,
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has its influence. Many are thus led to jest at the faith of their
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fathers, and to do despite to the spirit of grace. Many a life
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that promised to be an honor to God and a blessing to the world,
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has been blighted by the foul breath of infidelity. All who trust to the
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boastful decisions of human reason and imagine that they can explain divine mysteries and arrive
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at truth unaided by the wisdom of God are entangled in the snare of Satan.
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We are living in the most solemn period of this world's history. The
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destiny of Earth's teeming multitudes is about to be decided. Our own future well
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being and also the salvation of other souls depend upon the course which we now
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pursue. We need to be guided by the spirit of truth. Every follower
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of Christ should earnestly inquire, Lord Lord, what wilt thou have me to
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do? We need to humble ourselves before the Lord with fasting and prayer,
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and to meditate much upon his word, especially upon the scenes of the judgment.
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We should now seek a deep and living experience in the things of God.
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We have not a moment to lose. Events of vital importance are taking
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place around us. We are on Satan's enchanted ground. Sleep not sentinels of
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God. The foe is lurking near, ready at any moment, should you
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become lax and drowsy, to spring upon you and make you his prey.
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Many are deceived as to their true condition before God. They congratulate themselves upon
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the wrong acts which they do not commit, and forget to enumerate the good
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and noble deeds which God requires of them, but which they have neglected to
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perform. It is not enough that they are trees in the garden of God.
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They are to answer his expectation by bearing fruit. He holds them accountable
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for their failure to accomplish all the good which they could have done through His
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grace strengthening them. In the books of Heaven, they are registered as cumberers
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of the ground. Yet the case of even this class is not utterly hopeless.
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With those who have slighted God's mercy and abused his grace. The heart
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of long suffering love yet pleads, wherefore he saith, awake thou that sleepest,
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and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See
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then that ye walk circumspectly, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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When the testing time shall come, those who have made God's word their
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rule of life will be revealed. In summer, there is no noticeable difference
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between evergreens and other trees. But when the blasts of winter come, the
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evergreens remain unchanged, while other trees are stripped of their foliage. So the
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false hearted professor may not now be distinguished from the real Christian. But the
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time is just upon us when the difference will be apparent. Let opposition arise,
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Let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway. Let persecution be kindled, and
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the half hearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith. But the true
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Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter
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than in days of prosperity, says the Psalmist. Thy testimonies are my meditation.
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Through thy precepts I get understanding. Therefore I hate every false sway.
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Happy is the man that findeth wisdom. He shall be as a tree planted
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by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and
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shall not see when heat cometh. But her leaves shall be green, and
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shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding
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fruit. End of Chapter thirty seven