the great controversy-第120部分

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today　thousands　of　professors　of　religion　who　can　give　no　other　reason　for
points　of　faith　which　they　hold　than　that　they　were　so　instructed　by　their
religious　leaders。　They　pass　by　the　Saviour's　teachings　almost

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unnoticed；　and　place　implicit　confidence　in　the　words　of　the　ministers。　But
are　ministers　infallible？　How　can　we　trust　our　souls　to　their　guidance
unless　we　know　from　God's　word　that　they　are　light　bearers？　A　lack　of　moral
courage　to　step　aside　from　the　beaten　track　of　the　world　leads　many　to
follow　in　the　steps　of　learned　men；　and　by　their　reluctance　to　investigate
for　themselves；　they　are　becoming　hopelessly　fastened　in　the　chains　of
error。　They　see　that　the　truth　for　this　time　is　plainly　brought　to　view　in
the　Bible；　and　they　feel　the　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit　attending　its
proclamation；　yet　they　allow　the　opposition　of　the　clergy　to　turn　them　from
the　light。　Though　reason　and　conscience　are　convinced；　these　deluded　souls
dare　not　think　differently　from　the　minister；　and　their　individual　judgment；
their　eternal　interests；　are　sacrificed　to　the　unbelief；　the　pride　and
prejudice；　of　another。

Many　are　the　ways　by　which　Satan　works　through　human　influence　to　bind　his
captives。　He　secures　multitudes　to　himself　by　attaching　them　by　the　silken
cords　of　affection　to　those　who　are　enemies　of　the　cross　of　Christ。　Whatever
this　attachment　may　be；　parental；　filial；　conjugal；　or　social；　the　effect　is
the　same；　the　opposers　of　truth　exert　their　power　to　control　the　conscience；
and　the　souls　held　under　their　sway　have　not　sufficient　courage　or
independence　to　obey　their　own　convictions　of　duty。

The　truth　and　the　glory　of　God　are　inseparable；　it　is　impossible　for　us；
with　the　Bible　within　our　reach；　to　honor　God　by　erroneous　opinions。　Many
claim　that　it　matters　not　what　one　believes；　if　his　life　is　only　right。　But
the　life　is　molded　by　the　faith。　If　light　and　truth　is　within　our　reach；　and
we　neglect　to　improve　the　privilege　of　hearing　and　seeing　it；　we　virtually
reject　it；　we　are　choosing　darkness　rather　than　light。

〃There　is　a　way　that　seemeth　right　unto　a　man；　but　the　end　thereof　are　the
ways　of　death。〃　Proverbs　16：25。　Ignorance　is　no　excuse　for　error　or　sin；
when　there　is　every　opportunity

598

to　know　the　will　of　God。　A　man　is　traveling　and　comes　to　a　place　where　there
are　several　roads　and　a　guideboard　indicating　where　each　one　leads。　If　he
disregards　the　guideboard；　and　takes　whichever　road　seems　to　him　to　be
right；　he　may　be　ever　so　sincere；　but　will　in　all　probability　find　himself
on　the　wrong　road。

God　has　given　us　His　word　that　we　may　become　acquainted　with　its　teachings
and　know　for　ourselves　what　He　requires　of　us。　When　the　lawyer　came　to　Jesus
with　the　inquiry；　〃What　shall　I　do　to　inherit　eternal　life？〃　the　Saviour
referred　him　to　the　Scriptures；　saying：　〃What　is　written　in　the　law？　how
readest　thou？〃　Ignorance　will　not　excuse　young　or　old；　nor　release　them　from
the　punishment　due　for　the　transgression　of　God's　law；　because　there　is　in
their　hands　a　faithful　presentation　of　that　law　and　of　its　principles　and
claims。　It　is　not　enough　to　have　good　intentions；　it　is　not　enough　to　do
what　a　man　thinks　is　right　or　what　the　minister　tells　him　is　right。　His
soul's　salvation　is　at　stake；　and　he　should　search　the　Scriptures　for
himself。　However　strong　may　be　his　convictions；　however　confident　he　may　be
that　the　minister　knows　what　is　truth；　this　is　not　his　foundation。　He　has　a
chart　pointing　out　every　waymark　on　the　heavenward　journey；　and　he　ought　not
to　guess　at　anything。

It　is　the　first　and　highest　duty　of　every　rational　being　to　learn　from　the
Scriptures　what　is　truth；　and　then　to　walk　in　the　light　and　encourage　others
to　follow　his　example。　We　should　day　by　day　study　the　Bible　diligently；
weighing　every　thought　and　comparing　scripture　with　scripture。　With　divine
help　we　are　to　form　our　opinions　for　ourselves　as　we　are　to　answer　for
ourselves　before　God。

The　truths　most　plainly　revealed　in　the　Bible　have　been　involved　in　doubt
and　darkness　by　learned　men；　who；　with　a　pretense　of　great　wisdom；　teach
that　the　Scriptures　have　a　mystical；　a　secret；　spiritual　meaning　not
apparent　in　the　language　employed。　These　men　are　false　teachers。　It　was　to

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such　a　class　that　Jesus　declared：　〃Ye　know　not　the　Scriptures；　neither　the
power　of　God。〃　Mark　12：24。　The　language　of　the　Bible　should　be　explained
according　to　its　obvious　meaning；　unless　a　symbol　or　figure　is　employed。
Christ　has　given　the　promise：　〃If　any　man　will　do　His　will；　he　shall　know　of
the　doctrine。〃　John　7：17。　If　men　would　but　take　the　Bible　as　it　reads；　if
there　were　no　false　teachers　to　mislead　and　confuse　their　minds；　a　work
would　be　accomplished　that　would　make　angels　glad　and　that　would　bring　into
the　fold　of　Christ　thousands　upon　thousands　who　are　now　wandering　in　error。

We　should　exert　all　the　powers　of　the　mind　in　the　study　of　the　Scriptures
and　should　task　the　understanding　to　comprehend；　as　far　as　mortals　can；　the
deep　things　of　God；　yet　we　must　not　forget　that　the　docility　and　submission
of　a　child　is　the　true　spirit　of　the　learner。　Scriptural　difficulties　can
never　be　mastered　by　the　same　methods　that　are　employed　in　grappling　with
philosophical　problems。　We　should　not　engage　in　the　study　of　the　Bible　with
that　self…reliance　with　which　so　many　enter　the　domains　of　science；　but　with
a　prayerful　dependence　upon　God　and　a　sincere　desire　to　learn　His　will。　We
must　come　with　a　humble　and　teachable　spirit　to　obtain　knowledge　from　the
great　I　AM。　Otherwise；　evil　angels　will　so　blind　our　minds　and　harden　our
hearts　that　we　shall　not　be　impressed　by　the　truth。

Many　a　portion　of　Scripture　which　learned　men　pronounce　a　mystery；　or　pass
over　as　unimportant；　is　full　of　comfort　and　instruction　to　him　who　has　been
taught　in　the　school　of　Christ。　One　reason　why　many　theologians　have　no
clearer　understanding　of　God's　word　is；　they　close　their　eyes　to　truths
which　they　do　not　wish　to　practice。　As　understanding　of　Bible　truth　depends
not　so　much　on　the　power　of　intellect　brought　to　the　search　as　on　the
singleness　of　purpose；　the　earnest　longing　after　righteousness。

The　Bible　should　never　be　studied　without　prayer。　The　Holy　Spirit　alone　can
cause　us　to　feel　the　importance　of　those

600

things　easy　to　be　understood；　or　prevent　us　from　wresting　truths　difficult
of　comprehension。　It　is　the　office　of　heavenly　angels　to　prepare　the　heart
so　to　comprehend　God's　word　that　we　shall　be　charmed　with　its　beauty；
admonished　by　its　warnings；　or　animated　and　strengthened　by　its　promises。　We
should　make　the　psalmist's　petition　our　own：　〃Open　Thou　mine　eyes；　that　I
may　behold　wondrous　things　out　of　Thy　law。〃　Psalm　119：18。　Temptations　often
appear　irresistible　because；　through　neglect　of　prayer　and　the　study　of　the
Bible；　the　tempted　one　cannot　readily　remember　God's　promises　and　meet　Satan
with　the　Scripture　weapons。　But　angels　are　round　about　those　who　are　willing
to　be　taught　in　divine　things；　and　in　the　time　of　great　necessity　they　will
bring　to　their　remembrance　the　very　truths　which　are　needed。　Thus　〃when　the
enemy　shall　come　in　like　a　flood；　the　Spirit　of　the　Lord　shall　lift　up　a
standard　against　him。〃　Isaiah　59：19。

Jesus　promised　His　disciples：　〃The　Comforter；　which　is　the　Holy　Ghost；　whom
the　Father　will　send　in　My　name；　He　shall　teach　you　all　things；　and　bring
all　things　to　your　remembrance；　whatsoever　I　have　said　unto　you。〃　John
14：26。　But　the　teachings　of　Christ　must　previously　have　been　stored　in　the
mind　in　order　for　the　Spirit　of　God　to　bring　them　to　our　remembrance　in　the
time　of　peril。　〃Thy　word　have　I　hid　in　mine　heart；〃　said　David；　〃that　I
might　not　sin　against　Thee。〃　Psalm　119：11。

All　who　value　their　eternal　interests　should　be　on　their　guard　against　the
inroads　of　skepticism。　The　very　pillars　of　truth　will　be　assailed。　It　is
impossible　to　keep　beyond　the　reach　of　the　sarcasms　and　sophisms；　the
insidious　and　pestilent　teachings；　of　modern　infidelity。　Satan　adapts　his
temptations　to　all　classes。　He　assails　the　illiterate　with　a　jest　or　sneer；
while　he　meets　the　educated　with　scientific　objections　and　philosophical
reasoning；　alike　calculated　to　excite　distrust　or　contempt　of　the
Scriptures。　Even　youth　of　little　experience　presume　to　insinuate　doubts
concerning　the　fundamental

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principles　of　Christianity。　And　this　youthful　infidelity；　shallow　as　it　is；
has　its　influence。　Many　are　thus　led　to　jest　at　the　faith　of　their　fathers
and　to　do　despite　to　the　Spirit　of　grace。　Hebrews　10：29。　Many　a　life　that
promised　to　be　an　honor　to　God　and　a　blessing　to　the　world　has　been　blighted
by　the　foul　breath　of　infidelity。　All　who　trust　to　the　boastful　decisions　of
human　reason　and　imagine　that　they　can　explain　divine　mysteries　and　arrive
at　truth　unaided　by　the　wisdom　of　God　are　entangled　in　the　snare　of　Satan。

We　are　living　in　the　most　solemn　period　of　this　world's　history。　The　destiny
of　earth's　teeming　multitudes　is　about　to　be　decided。　Our　own　future
well…being　and　also　the　salvation　of　other　souls　depend　upon　the　course
which　we　now　pursue。　We　need　to　be　guided　by　the　Spirit　of　truth。　Every
follower　of　Christ　should　earnestly　inquire：　〃Lord；　what　wilt　Thou　have　me
to　do？〃　We　need　to　humble　ourselves　before　the　Lord；　with　fasting　and
prayer；　and　to　meditate　much　upon　His　word；　especially　upon　the　scenes　of
the　judgment。　We　should　now　seek　a　deep　and　living　experience　in　the　things
of　God。　We　have　not　a　moment　to　lose。　Events　of　vital　importance　are　taking
place　around　us；　we　are　on　Satan's　enchanted　ground。　Sleep　not；　sentinels　of
God；　the　foe　is　lurking　near；　ready　at　any　moment；　should　you　become　lax　and
drowsy；　to　spring　upon　you　and　make　you　his　prey。

Many　are　deceived　as　to　their　true　condition　before　God。　They　congratulate
themselves　upon　the　wrong　acts　which　they　do　not　commit；　and　forget　to
enumerate　the　good　and　noble　deeds　which　God　requires　of　them；　but　which
they　have　neglected　to　perform。　It　is