the great controversy-第93部分

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quickened。　The　〃light　which　lighteth　every　man　that　cometh　into　the　world〃
illumined　the　secret　chambers　of　their　souls；　and　the　hidden　things　of
darkness　were　made　manifest。　Deep　conviction　took　hold　upon　their　minds　and
hearts。　They　were　convinced　of　sin　and　of　righteousness　and　of　judgment　to
come。　They　had　a　sense　of　the　righteousness　of　Jehovah　and　felt　the　terror
of　appearing；　in　their　guilt　and　uncleanness；　before　the　Searcher　of　hearts。
In　anguish　they　cried　out：　〃Who　shall　deliver　me　from　the　body　of　this
death？〃　As　the　cross　of　Calvary；　with　its　infinite　sacrifice　for　the　sins　of
men；　was　revealed；　they　saw　that　nothing　but　the　merits　of　Christ　could
suffice　to　atone　for　their　transgressions；　this　alone　could　reconcile　man　to
God。　With　faith　and　humility　they　accepted　the　Lamb　of　God；　that　taketh　away
the　sin　of　the　world。　Through　the　blood　of　Jesus　they　had　〃remission　of　sins
that　are　past。〃

These　souls　brought　forth　fruit　meet　for　repentance。　They　believed　and　were
baptized；　and　rose　to　walk　in　newness　of　lifenew　creatures　in　Christ
Jesus；　not　to　fashion　themselves　according　to　the　former　lusts；　but　by　the
faith　of　the　Son　of

462

God　to　follow　in　His　steps；　to　reflect　His　character；　and　to　purify
themselves　even　as　He　is　pure。　The　things　they　once　hated　they　now　loved；
and　the　things　they　once　loved　they　hated。　The　proud　and　self…assertive
became　meek　and　lowly　of　heart。　The　vain　and　supercilious　became　serious　and
unobtrusive。　The　profane　became　reverent；　the　drunken　sober；　and　the
profligate　pure。　The　vain　fashions　of　the　world　were　laid　aside。　Christians
sought　not　the　〃outward　adorning　of　plaiting　the　hair；　and　of　wearing　of
gold；　or　of　putting　on　of　apparel；　but　。　。　。　the　hidden　man　of　the　heart；　in
that　which　is　not　corruptible；　even　the　ornament　of　a　meek　and　quiet　spirit；
which　is　in　the　sight　of　God　of　great　price。〃　1　Peter　3：3；　4。

Revivals　brought　deep　heart…searching　and　humility。　They　were　characterized
by　solemn；　earnest　appeals　to　the　sinner；　by　yearning　compassion　for　the
purchase　of　the　blood　of　Christ。　Men　and　women　prayed　and　wrestled　with　God
for　the　salvation　of　souls。　The　fruits　of　such　revivals　were　seen　in　souls
who　shrank　not　at　self…denial　and　sacrifice；　but　rejoiced　that　they　were
counted　worthy　to　suffer　reproach　and　trial　for　the　sake　of　Christ。　Men
beheld　a　transformation　in　the　lives　of　those　who　had　professed　the　name　of
Jesus。　The　community　was　benefited　by　their　influence。　They　gathered　with
Christ；　and　sowed　to　the　Spirit；　to　reap　life　everlasting。

It　could　be　said　of　them：　〃Ye　sorrowed　to　repentance。〃　〃For　godly　sorrow
worketh　repentance　to　salvation　not　to　be　repented　of：　but　the　sorrow　of　the
world　worketh　death。　For　behold　this　selfsame　thing；　that　ye　sorrowed　after
a　godly　sort；　what　carefulness　it　wrought　in　you；　yea；　what　clearing　of
yourselves；　yea；　what　indignation；　yea；　what　fear；　yea；　what　vehement
desire；　yea；　what　zeal；　yea；　what　revenge！　In　all　things　ye　have　approved
yourselves　to　be　clear　in　this　matter。〃
2　Corinthians　7：9…11。

This　is　the　result　of　the　work　of　the　Spirit　of　God。　There　is　no　evidence　of
genuine　repentance　unless　it　works　reformation。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　463

If　he　restore　the　pledge；　give　again　that　he　had　robbed；　confess　his　sins；
and　love　God　and　his　fellow　men；　the　sinner　may　be　sure　that　he　has　found
peace　with　God。　Such　were　the　effects　that　in　former　years　followed　seasons
of　religious　awakening。　Judged　by　their　fruits；　they　were　known　to　be
blessed　of　God　in　the　salvation　of　men　and　the　uplifting　of　humanity。

But　many　of　the　revivals　of　modern　times　have　presented　a　marked　contrast　to
those　manifestations　of　divine　grace　which　in　earlier　days　followed　the
labors　of　God's　servants。　It　is　true　that　a　widespread　interest　is　kindled；
many　profess　conversion；　and　there　are　large　accessions　to　the　churches；
nevertheless　the　results　are　not　such　as　to　warrant　the　belief　that　there
has　been　a　corresponding　increase　of　real　spiritual　life。　The　light　which
flames　up　for　a　time　soon　dies　out；　leaving　the　darkness　more　dense　than
before。

Popular　revivals　are　too　often　carried　by　appeals　to　the　imagination；　by
exciting　the　emotions；　by　gratifying　the　love　for　what　is　new　and　startling。
Converts　thus　gained　have　little　desire　to　listen　to　Bible　truth；　little
interest　in　the　testimony　of　prophets　and　apostles。　Unless　a　religious
service　has　something　of　a　sensational　character；　it　has　no　attractions　for
them。　A　message　which　appeals　to　unimpassioned　reason　awakens　no　response。
The　plain　warnings　of　God's　word；　relating　directly　to　their　eternal
interests；　are　unheeded。

With　every　truly　converted　soul　the　relation　to　God　and　to　eternal　things
will　be　the　great　topic　of　life。　But　where；　in　the　popular　churches　of
today；　is　the　spirit　of　consecration　to　God？　The　converts　do　not　renounce
their　pride　and　love　of　the　world。　They　are　no　more　willing　to　deny　self；　to
take　up　the　cross；　and　follow　the　meek　and　lowly　Jesus；　than　before　their
conversion。　Religion　has　become　the　sport　of　infidels　and　skeptics　because
so　many　who　bear　its　name　are　ignorant　of　its　principles。　The　power　of
godliness　has　well…nigh　departed　from　many　of　the　churches。　Picnics；　church
theatricals；

464

church　fairs；　fine　houses；　personal　display；　have　banished　thoughts　of　God。
Lands　and　goods　and　worldly　occupations　engross　the　mind；　and　things　of
eternal　interest　receive　hardly　a　passing　notice。

Notwithstanding　the　widespread　declension　of　faith　and　piety；　there　are　true
followers　of　Christ　in　these　churches。　Before　the　final　visitation　of　God's
judgments　upon　the　earth　there　will　be　among　the　people　of　the　Lord　such　a
revival　of　primitive　godliness　as　has　not　been　witnessed　since　apostolic
times。　The　Spirit　and　power　of　God　will　be　poured　out　upon　His　children。　At
that　time　many　will　separate　themselves　from　those　churches　in　which　the
love　of　this　world　has　supplanted　love　for　God　and　His　word。　Many；　both　of
ministers　and　people；　will　gladly　accept　those　great　truths　which　God　has
caused　to　be　proclaimed　at　this　time　to　prepare　a　people　for　the　Lord's
second　coming。　The　enemy　of　souls　desires　to　hinder　this　work；　and　before
the　time　for　such　a　movement　shall　come；　he　will　endeavor　to　prevent　it　by
introducing　a　counterfeit。　In　those　churches　which　he　can　bring　under　his
deceptive　power　he　will　make　it　appear　that　God's　special　blessing　is　poured
out；　there　will　be　manifest　what　is　thought　to　be　great　religious　interest。
Multitudes　will　exult　that　God　is　working　marvelously　for　them；　when　the
work　is　that　of　another　spirit。　Under　a　religious　guise；　Satan　will　seek　to
extend　his　influence　over　the　Christian　world。

In　many　of　the　revivals　which　have　occurred　during　the　last　half　century；
the　same　influences　have　been　at　work；　to　a　greater　or　less　degree；　that
will　be　manifest　in　the　more　extensive　movements　of　the　future。　There　is　an
emotional　excitement；　a　mingling　of　the　true　with　the　false；　that　is　well
adapted　to　mislead。　Yet　none　need　be　deceived。　In　the　light　of　God's　word　it
is　not　difficult　to　determine　the　nature　of　these　movements。　Wherever　men
neglect　the　testimony　of　the　Bible；　turning　away　from　those　plain；
soul…testing　truths　which　require　self…denial　and　renunciation　of　the　world；
there　we　may　be　sure　that　God's　blessing　is　not　bestowed。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　465

And　by　the　rule　which　Christ　Himself　has　given；　〃Ye　shall　know　them　by　their
fruits〃　（Matthew　7：16）；　it　is　evident　that　these　movements　are　not　the　work
of　the　Spirit　of　God。

In　the　truths　of　His　word；　God　has　given　to　men　a　revelation　of　Himself；　and
to　all　who　accept　them　they　are　a　shield　against　the　deceptions　of　Satan。　It
is　a　neglect　of　these　truths　that　has　opened　the　door　to　the　evils　which　are
now　becoming　so　widespread　in　the　religious　world。　The　nature　and　the
importance　of　the　law　of　God　have　been；　to　a　great　extent；　lost　sight　of。　A
wrong　conception　of　the　character；　the　perpetuity；　and　the　obligation　of　the
divine　law　has　led　to　errors　in　relation　to　conversion　and　sanctification；
and　has　resulted　in　lowering　the　standard　of　piety　in　the　church。　Here　is　to
be　found　the　secret　of　the　lack　of　the　Spirit　and　power　of　God　in　the
revivals　of　our　time。

There　are；　in　the　various　denominations；　men　eminent　for　their　piety；　by
whom　this　fact　is　acknowledged　and　deplored。　Professor　Edwards　A。　Park；　in
setting　forth　the　current　religious　perils；　ably　says：　〃One　source　of　danger
is　the　neglect　of　the　pulpit　to　enforce　the　divine　law。　In　former　days　the
pulpit　was　an　echo　of　the　voice　of　conscience。　。　。　。　Our　most　illustrious
preachers　gave　a　wonderful　majesty　to　their　discourses　by　following　the
example　of　the　Master；　and　giving　prominence　to　the　law；　its　precepts；　and
its　threatenings。　They　repeated　the　two　great　maxims；　that　the　law　is　a
transcript　of　the　divine　perfections；　and　that　a　man　who　does　not　love　the
law　does　not　love　the　gospel；　for　the　law；　as　well　as　the　gospel；　is　a
mirror　reflecting　the　true　character　of　God。　This　peril　leads　to　another；
that　of　underrating　the　evil　of　sin；　the　extent　of　it；　the　demerit　of　it。　In
proportion　to　the　rightfulness　of　the　commandment　is　the　wrongfulness　of
disobeying　it。　。　。　。

〃Affiliated　to　the　dangers　already　named　is　the　danger　of　underestimating
the　justice　of　God。　The　tendency　of　the　modern　pulpit　is　to　strain　out　the
divine　justice　from　the　divine　benevolence；　to　sink　benevolence　into　a
sentiment　rather

466

than　exalt　it　into　a　principle。　The　new　theological　prism　puts　asunder　what
God　has　joined　together。　Is　the　divine　law　a　good　or　an　evil？　It　is　a　good。
Then　justice　is　good；　for　it　is　a　disposition　to　execute　the　law。　From　the
habit　of　underrating　the　divine　law　and　justice；　the　extent　and　demerit　of
human　disobedience；　men　easily　slide　into　the　habit　of　underestimating　the
grace　which　has　provided　an　atonement　for　sin。〃　Thus　the　gospel　loses　its
value　and　importance　in　the　minds　of　men；　and　soon　they　are　ready
practically　to　cast　aside　the　Bible　itself。

Many　religious　teachers　assert　that　Chr