the great controversy-第85章

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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。

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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　Christ　by　His　death　abolished　the　law；
and　men　are　henceforth　free　from　its　requirements。　There　are　some　who
represent　it　as　a　grievous　yoke；　and　in　contrast　to　the　bondage　of　the　law
they　present　the　liberty　to　be　enjoyed　under　the　gospel。

But　not　so　did　prophets　and　apostles　regard　the　holy　law　of　God。　Said　David：
〃I　will　walk　at　liberty：　for　I　seek　Thy　precepts。〃　Psalm　119：45。　The　apostle
James；　who　wrote　after　the　death　of　Christ；　refers　to　the　Decalogue　as　〃the
royal　law〃　and　〃the　perfect　law　of　liberty。〃　James　2：8；　1：25。　And　the
revelator；　half　a　century　after　the　crucifixion；　pronounces　a　blessing　upon
them　〃that　do　His　commandments；　that　they　may　have　right　to　the　tree　of
life；　and　may　enter　in　through　the　gates　into　the　city。〃　Revelation　22：14。

The　claim　that　Christ　by　His　death　abolished　His　Father's　law　is　without
foundation。　Had　it　been　possible　for　the　law　to　be　changed　or　set　aside；
then　Christ　need　not　have　died　to　save　man　from　the　penalty　of　sin。　The
death　of　Christ；　so　far　from　abolishing　the　law；　proves　that　it　is
immutable。　The　Son　of　God　came　to　〃magnify　the　law；　and　make　it　honorable。〃
Isaiah　42：21。　He　said：　〃Think　not　that　I　am　come　to　destroy　the　law；〃　〃till
heaven　and　earth　pass；　one　jot　or　one　tittle　shall　in　no　wise　pass　from　the
law。〃　Matthew　5；17；　18。　And　concerning　Himself　He　declares：　〃I　delight　to　do
Thy　will；　O　my　God：　yea；　Thy　law　is　within　My　heart。〃　Psalm　40：8。

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The　law　of　God；　from　its　very　nature；　is　unchangeable。　It　is　a　revelation　of
the　will　and　the　character　of　its　Author。　God　is　love；　and　His　law　is　love。
Its　two　great　principles　are　love　to　God　and　love　to　man。　〃Love　is　the
fulfilling　of　the　law。〃　Romans　13：10。　The　character　of　God　is　righteousness
and　truth；　such　is　the　nature　of　His　law。　Says　the　psalmist：　〃Thy　law　is　the
truth：〃　〃all　Thy　commandments　are　righteousness。〃　Psalm　119：142；　172。　And
the　apostle　Paul　declares：　〃The　law　is　holy；　and　the　commandment　holy；　and
just；　and　good。〃　Romans　7：12。　Such　a　law；　being　an　expression　of　the　mind
and　will　of　God；　must　be　as　enduring　as　its　Author。

It　is　the　work　of　conversion　and　sanctification　to　reconcile　men　to　God　by
bringing　them　into　accord　with　the　principles　of　His　law。　In　the　beginning；
man　was　created　in　the　image　of　God。　He　was　in　perfect　harmony　with　the
nature　and　the　law　of　God；　the　principles　of　righteousness　were　written　upon
his　heart。　But　sin　alienated　him　from　his　Maker。　He　no　longer　reflected　the
divine　image。　His　heart　was　at　war　with　the　principles　of　God's　law。　〃The
carnal　mind　is　enmity　against　God：　for　it　is　not　subject　to　the　law　of　God；
neither　indeed　can　be。〃　Romans　8：7。　But　〃God　so　loved　the　world；　that　He
gave　His　only…begotten　Son；〃　that　man　might　be　reconciled　to　God。　Through
the　merits　of　Christ　he　can　be　restored　to　harmony　with　his　Maker。　His　heart
must　be　renewed　by　divine　grace；　he　must　have　a　new　life　from　above。　This
change　is　the　new　birth；　without　which；　says　Jesus；　〃he　cannot　see　the
kingdom　of　God。〃

The　first　step　in　reconciliation　to　God　is　the　conviction　of　sin。　〃Sin　is
the　transgression　of　the　law。〃　By　the　law　is　the　knowledge　of　sin。〃　1　John
3：4；　Romans　3：20。　In　order　to　see　his　guilt；　the　sinner　must　test　his
character　by　God's　great　standard　of　righteousness。　It　is　a　mirror　which
shows　the　perfection　of　a　righteous　character　and　enables　him　to　discern　the
defects　in　his　own。

The　law　reveals　to　man　his　sins；　but　it　provides　no　remedy。

468

While　it　promises　life　to　the　obedient；　it　declares　that　death　is　the
portion　of　the　transgressor。　The　gospel　of　Christ　alone　can　free　him　from
the　condemnation　or　the　defilement　of　sin。　He　must　exercise　repentance
toward　God；　whose　law　has　been　transgressed；　and　faith　in　Christ；　his
atoning　sacrifice。　Thus　he　obtains　〃remission　of　sins　that　are　past〃　and
becomes　a　partaker　of　the　divine　nature。　He　is　a　child　of　God；　having
received　the　spirit　of　adoption；　whereby　he　cries：　〃Abba；　Father！〃

Is　he　now　free　to　transgress　God's　law？　Says　Paul：　〃Do　we　then　make　void　the
law　through　faith？　God　forbid：　yea；　we　establish　the　law。〃　〃How　shall　we；
that　are　dead　to　sin；　live　any　longer　therein？〃　And　John　declares：　〃This　is
the　love　of　God；　that　we　keep　His　commandments：　and　His　commandments　are　not
grievous。〃　Romans　3：31；　6：2；　1　John　5：3。　In　the　new　birth　the　heart　is
brought　into　harmony　with　God；　as　it　is　brought　into　accord　with　His　law。
When　this　mighty　change　has　taken　place　in　the　sinner；　he　has　passed　from
death　unto　life；　from　sin　unto　holiness；　from　transgression　and　rebellion　to
obedience　and　loyalty。　The　old　life　of　alienation　from　God　has　ended；　the
new　life　of　reconciliation；　of　faith　and　love；　has　begun。　Then　〃the
righteousness　of　the　law〃　will　〃be　fulfilled　in　us；　who　walk　not　after　the
flesh；　but　after　the　Spirit。〃　Romans　8：4。　And　the　language　of　the　soul　will
be：　〃O　how　love　I　Thy　law！　it　is　my　meditation　all　the　day。〃　Psalm　119：97。

〃The　law　of　the　Lord　is　perfect；　converting　the　soul。〃　Psalm　19：7。　Without
the　law；　men