the great controversy-第58部分
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Oracles； and men recognized the necessity of faith in God and His word as
the foundation of virtue and morality。 Saith the Lord： 〃Whom hast thou
reproached and blasphemed？ and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice； and
lifted up thine eyes on high？ even against the Holy One of Israel；〃 Isaiah
37：23。 〃Therefore； behold； I will cause them to know； this once will I cause
them to know My hand and My might； and they shall know that My name is
Jehovah。〃 Jeremiah 16：21； A。R。V。
Concerning the two witnesses the prophet declares further： 〃And they heard a
great voice from heaven saying unto them； Come up hither。 And they ascended
up to heaven in a cloud； and their enemies beheld them。〃 Revelation 11：12。
Since France made war upon God's two witnesses； they have been honored as
never before。 In 1804 the British and Foreign Bible Society was organized。
This was followed by similar organizations； with numerous branches； upon the
continent of Europe。 In 1816 the American Bible Society was founded。 When
the British Society was formed； the Bible had been printed and circulated in
fifty tongues。 It has since been translated into many hundreds of languages
and dialects。 （See Appendix。）
For the fifty years preceding 1792； little attention was given to the work
of foreign missions。 No new societies were formed； and there were but few
churches that made any
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effort for the spread of Christianity in heathen lands。 But toward the close
of the eighteenth century a great change took place。 Men became dissatisfied
with the results of rationalism and realized the necessity of divine
revelation and experimental religion。 From this time the work of foreign
missions attained an unprecedented growth。 （See Appendix。）
The improvements in printing have given an impetus to the work of
circulating the Bible。 The increased facilities for communication between
different countries； the breaking down of ancient barriers of prejudice and
national exclusiveness； and the loss of secular power by the pontiff of Rome
have opened the way for the entrance of the word of God。 For some years the
Bible has been sold without restraint in the streets of Rome； and it has now
been carried to every part of the habitable globe。
The infidel Voltaire once boastingly said： 〃I am weary of hearing people
repeat that twelve men established the Christian religion。 I will prove that
one man may suffice to overthrow it。〃 Generations have passed since his
death。 Millions have joined in the war upon the Bible。 But it is so far from
being destroyed； that where there were a hundred in Voltaire's time； there
are now ten thousand； yes； a hundred thousand copies of the book of God。 In
the words of an early Reformer concerning the Christian church； 〃The Bible
is an anvil that has worn out many hammers。〃 Saith the Lord： 〃No weapon that
is formed against thee shall prosper； and every tongue that shall rise
against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn。〃 Isaiah 54：17。
〃The word of our God shall stand forever。〃 〃All His commandments are sure。
They stand fast for ever and ever； and are done in truth and uprightness。〃
Isaiah 40：8； Psalm 111：7； 8。 Whatever is built upon the authority of man
will be overthrown； but that which is founded upon the rock of God's
immutable word shall stand forever。
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Chapter 16
The Pilgrim Fathers
The English Reformers； while renouncing the doctrines of Romanism； had
retained many of its forms。 Thus though the authority and the creed of Rome
were rejected； not a few of her customs and ceremonies were incorporated
into the worship of the Church of England。 It was claimed that these things
were not matters of conscience； that though they were not commanded in
Scripture； and hence were nonessential； yet not being forbidden； they were
not intrinsically evil。 Their observance tended to narrow the gulf which
separated the reformed churches from Rome； and it was urged that they would
promote the acceptance of the Protestant faith by Romanists。
To the conservative and compromising； these arguments seemed conclusive。 But
there was another class that did not so judge。 The fact that these customs
〃tended to bridge over the chasm between Rome and the Reformation〃 （Martyn；
volume 5； page 22）； was in their view a conclusive argument against
retaining them。 They looked upon them as badges of the slavery from which
they had been delivered and to which they had no disposition to return。 They
reasoned that God has in His word established the regulations governing His
worship； and that men are not at liberty to add to these or to detract from
them。 The very beginning of the great apostasy was in seeking to supplement
the authority of God by
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that of the church。 Rome began by enjoining what God had not forbidden； and
she ended by forbidding what He had explicitly enjoined。
Many earnestly desired to return to the purity and simplicity which
characterized the primitive church。 They regarded many of the established
customs of the English Church as monuments of idolatry； and they could not
in conscience unite in her worship。 But the church； being supported by the
civil authority； would permit no dissent from her forms。 Attendance upon her
service was required by law； and unauthorized assemblies for religious
worship were prohibited； under penalty of imprisonment； exile； and death。
At the opening of the seventeenth century the monarch who had just ascended
the throne of England declared his determination to make the Puritans
〃conform； or 。 。 。 harry them out of the land； or else worse。〃George
Bancroft； History of the United States of America； pt。 1； ch。 12； par。 6。
Hunted； persecuted； and imprisoned； they could discern in the future no
promise of better days； and many yielded to the conviction that for such as
would serve God according to the dictates of their conscience； 〃England was
ceasing forever to be a habitable place。〃J。 G。 Palfrey； History of New
England； ch。 3； par。 43。 Some at last determined to seek refuge in Holland。
Difficulties； losses； and imprisonment were encountered。 Their purposes were
thwarted； and they were betrayed into the hands of their enemies。 But
steadfast perseverance finally conquered； and they found shelter on the
friendly shores of the Dutch Republic。
In their flight they had left their houses； their goods； and their means of
livelihood。 They were strangers in a strange land； among a people of
different language and customs。 They were forced to resort to new and
untried occupations to earn their bread。 Middle…aged men； who had spent
their lives in tilling the soil； had now to learn mechanical trades。 But
they cheerfully accepted the situation and lost no time in idleness or
repining。 Though often pinched with poverty；
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they thanked God for the blessings which were still granted them and found
their joy in unmolested spiritual communion。 〃They knew they were pilgrims；
and looked not much on those things； but lifted up their eyes to heaven；
their dearest country； and quieted their spirits。〃Bancroft； pt。 1； ch。 12；
par。 15。
In the midst of exile and hardship their love and faith waxed strong。 They
trusted the Lord's promises； and He did not fail them in time of need。 His
angels were by their side； to encourage and support them。 And when God's
hand seemed pointing them across the sea； to a land where they might found
for themselves a state； and leave to their children the precious heritage of
religious liberty； they went forward； without shrinking； in the path of
providence。
God had permitted trials to come upon His people to prepare them for the
accomplishment of His gracious purpose toward them。 The church had been
brought low； that she might be exalted。 God was about to display His power
in her behalf； to give to the world another evidence that He will not
forsake those who trust in Him。 He had overruled events to cause the wrath
of Satan and the plots of evil men to advance His glory and to bring His
people to a place of security。 Persecution and exile were opening the way to
freedom。
When first constrained to separate from the English Church； the Puritans had
joined themselves together by a solemn covenant； as the Lord's free people；
〃to walk together in all His ways made known or to be made known to them。〃
J。 Brown； The Pilgrim Fathers； page 74。 Here was the true spirit of
reform； the vital principle of Protestantism。 It was with this purpose that
the Pilgrims departed from Holland to find a home in the New World。 John
Robinson； their pastor； who was providentially prevented from accompanying
them； in his farewell address to the exiles said：
〃Brethren； we are now erelong to part asunder； and the Lord knoweth whether
I shall live ever to see your faces more。 But whether the Lord hath
appointed it or not； I
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charge you before God and His blessed angels to follow me no farther than I
have followed Christ。 If God should reveal anything to you by any other
instrument of His； be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any
truth of my ministry； for I am very confident the Lord hath more truth and
light yet to break forth out of His holy word。〃Martyn； vol。 5； p。 70。
〃For my part； I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed
churches； who are come to a period in religion； and will go at present no
farther than the instruments of their reformation。 The Lutherans cannot be
drawn to go beyond what Luther saw； 。 。 。 and the Calvinists； you see； stick
fast where they were left by that great man of God； who yet saw not all
things。 This is a misery much to be lamented； for though they were burning
and shining lights in their time； yet they penetrated not into the whole
counsel of God； but were they now living； would be as willing to embrace
further light as that which they first received。〃D。 Neal； History of the
Puritans； vol。 1； p。 269。
〃Remember your church covenant； in which you have agreed to walk in all the
ways of the Lord； made or to be made known un
