the great controversy-第96章

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all　might　be　damned　who　believed　not　the　truth；　but　had　pleasure　in
unrighteousness。〃　2　Thessalonians　2：10…12。　With　such　a　warning　before　us　it
behooves　us　to　be　on　our　guard　as　to　what　doctrines　we　receive。

Among　the　most　successful　agencies　of　the　great　deceiver　are　the　delusive
teachings　and　lying　wonders　of　spiritualism。　Disguised　as　an　angel　of　light；
he　spreads　his　nets　where　least　suspected。　If　men　would　but　study　the　Book
of　God　with　earnest　prayer　that　they　might　understand　it；　they　would　not　be
left　in　darkness　to　receive　false　doctrines。　But　as　they　reject　the　truth
they　fall　a　prey　to　deception。

Another　dangerous　error　is　the　doctrine　that　denies　the　deity　of　Christ；
claiming　that　He　had　no　existence　before　His　advent　to　this　world。　This
theory　is　received　with　favor　by　a　large　class　who　profess　to　believe　the
Bible；　yet　it　directly　contradicts　the　plainest　statements　of　our　Saviour
concerning　His　relationship　with　the　Father；　His　divine　character；　and　His
pre…existence。　It　cannot　be　entertained　without　the　most　unwarranted
wresting　of　the　Scriptures。　It　not　only　lowers　man's　conceptions　of　the　work
of　redemption；　but　undermines　faith　in　the　Bible　as　a　revelation　from　God。
While　this　renders　it　the　more　dangerous；　it　makes　it　also　harder　to　meet。
If　men　reject　the　testimony　of　the　inspired　Scriptures　concerning　the　deity
of　Christ；　it　is　in　vain　to　argue　the　point　with　them；　for　no　argument；
however　conclusive；　could　convince　them。　〃The　natural　man　receiveth　not　the
things　of　the　Spirit　of　God：　for　they　are　foolishness　unto　him：　neither　can
he　know　them；　because　they　are　spiritually　discerned。〃
1　Corinthians　2：14。　None　who　hold　this　error　can　have　a
true　conception　of　the　character　or　the　mission　of　Christ；　or　of　the　great
plan　of　God　for　man's　redemption。

Still　another　subtle　and　mischievous　error　is　the　fast…spreading　belief　that
Satan　has　no　existence　as　a　personal　being；　that　the　name　is　used　in
Scripture　merely　to　represent　men's　evil　thoughts　and　desires。

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The　teaching　so　widely　echoed　from　popular　pulpits；　that　the　second　advent
of　Christ　is　His　coming　to　each　individual　at　death；　is　a　device　to　divert
the　minds　of　men　from　His　personal　coming　in　the　clouds　of　heaven。　For　years
Satan　has　thus　been　saying；　〃Behold；　He　is　in　the　secret　chambers〃　（Matthew
24：23…26）；　and　many　souls　have　been　lost　by　accepting　this　deception。

Again；　worldly　wisdom　teaches　that　prayer　is　not　essential。　Men　of　science
claim　that　there　can　be　no　real　answer　to　prayer；　that　this　would　be　a
violation　of　law；　a　miracle；　and　that　miracles　have　no　existence。　The
universe；　say　they；　is　governed　by　fixed　laws；　and　God　Himself　does　nothing
contrary　to　these　laws。　Thus　they　represent　God　as　bound　by　His　own　lawsas
if　the　operation　of　divine　laws　could　exclude　divine　freedom。　Such　teaching
is　opposed　to　the　testimony　of　the　Scriptures。　Were　not　miracles　wrought　by
Christ　and　His　apostles？　The　same　compassionate　Saviour　lives　today；　and　He
is　as　willing　to　listen　to　the　prayer　of　faith　as　when　He　walked　visibly
among　men。　The　natural　cooperates　with　the　supernatural。　It　is　a　part　of
God's　plan　to　grant　us；　in　answer　to　the　prayer　of　faith；　that　which　He
would　not　bestow　did　we　not　thus　ask。

Innumerable　are　the　erroneous　doctrines　and　fanciful　ideas　that　are
obtaining　among　the　churches　of　Christendom。　It　is　impossible　to　estimate
the　evil　results　of　removing　one　of　the　landmarks　fixed　by　the　word　of　God。
Few　who　venture　to　do　this　stop　with　the　rejection　of　a　single　truth。　The
majority　continue　to　set　aside　one　after　another　of　the　principles　of　truth；
until　they　become　actual　infidels。

The　errors　of　popular　theology　have　driven　many　a　soul　to　skepticism　who
might　otherwise　have　been　a　believer　in　the　Scriptures。　It　is　impossible　for
him　to　accept　doctrines　which　outrage　his　sense　of　justice；　mercy；　and
benevolence；　and　since　these　are　represented　as　the　teaching　of　the　Bible；
he　refuses　to　receive　it　as　the　word　of　God。

526


And　this　is　the　object　which　Satan　seeks　to　accomplish。　There　is　nothing
that　he　desires　more　than　to　destroy　confidence　in　God　and　in　His　word。
Satan　stands　at　the　head　of　the　great　army　of　doubters；　and　he　works　to　the
utmost　of　his　power　to　beguile　souls　into　his　ranks。　It　is　becoming
fashionable　to　doubt。　There　is　a　large　class　by　whom　the　word　of　God　is
looked　upon　with　distrust　for　the　same　reason　as　was　its　Authorbecause　it
reproves　and　condemns　sin。　Those　who　are　unwilling　to　obey　its　requirements
endeavor　to　overthrow　its　authority。　They　read　the　Bible；　or　listen　to　its
teachings　as　presented　from　the　sacred　desk；　merely　to　find　fault　with　the
Scriptures　or　with　the　sermon。　Not　a　few　become　infidels　in　order　to　justify
or　excuse　themselves　in　neglect　of　duty。　Others　adopt　skeptical　principles
from　pride　and　indolence。　Too　ease…loving　to　distinguish　themselves　by
accomplishing　anything　worthy　of　honor；　which　requires　effort　and
self…denial；　they　aim　to　secure　a　reputation　for　superior　wisdom　by
criticizing　the　Bible。　There　is　much　which　the　finite　mind；　unenlightened　by
divine　wisdom；　is　powerless　to　comprehend；　and　thus　they　find　occasion　to
criticize。　There　are　many　who　seem　to　feel　that　it　is　a　virtue　to　stand　on
the　side　of　unbelief；　skepticism；　and　infidelity。　But　underneath　an
appearance　of　candor　it　will　be　found　that　such　persons　are　actuated　by
self…confidence　and　pride。　Many　delight　in　finding　something　in　the
Scriptures　to　puzzle　the　minds　of　others。　Some　at　first　criticize　and　reason
on　the　wrong　side；　from　a　mere　love　of　controversy。　They　do　not　realize　that
they　are　thus　entangling　themselves　in　the　snare　of　the　fowler。　But　having
openly　expressed　unbelief；　they　feel　that　they　must　maintain　their　position。
Thus　they　unite　with　the　ungodly　and　close　to　themselves　the　gates　of
Paradise。

God　has　given　in　His　word　sufficient　evidence　of　its　divine　character。　The
great　truths　which　concern　our　redemption　are　clearly　presented。　By　the　aid
of　the　Holy　Spirit；　which　is　promised　to　all　who　seek　it　in　sincerity；　every
man　may

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understand　these　truths　for　himself。　God　has　granted　to　men　a　strong
foundation　upon　which　to　rest　their　faith。

Yet　the　finite　minds　of　men　are　inadequate　fully　to　comprehend　the　plans　and
purposes　of　the　Infinite　One。　We　can　never　by　searching　find　out　God。　We
must　not　attempt　to　lift　with　presumptuous　hand　the　curtain　behind　which　He
veils　His　majesty。　The　apostle　exclaims：　〃How　unsearchable　are　His
judgments；　and　His　ways　past　finding　out！〃　Romans　11：33。　We　can　so　far
comprehend　His　dealings　with　us；　and　the　motives　by　which　He　is　actuated；
that　we　may　discern　boundless　love　and　mercy　united　to　infinite　power。　Our
Father　in　heaven　orders　everything　in　wisdom　and　righteousness；　and　we　are
not　to　be　dissatisfied　and　distrustful；　but　to　bow　in　reverent　submission。
He　will　reveal　to　us　as　much　of　His　purposes　as　it　is　for　our　good　to　know；
and　beyond　that　we　must　trust　the　Hand　that　is　omnipotent；　the　Heart　that　is
full　of　love。

While　God　has　given　ample　evidence　for　faith；　He　will　never　remove　all
excuse　for　unbelief。　All　who　look　for　hooks　to　hang　their　doubts　upon　will
find　them。　And　those　who　refuse　to　accept　and　obey　God's　word　until　every
objection　has　been　removed；　and　there　is　no　longer　an　opportunity　for　doubt；
will　never　come　to　the　light。

Distrust　of　God　is　the　natural　outgrowth　of　the　unrenewed　heart；　which　is　at
enmity　with　Him。　But　faith　is　inspired　by　the　Holy　Spirit；　and　it　will
flourish　only　as　it　is　cherished。　No　man　can　become　strong　in　faith　without
a　determined　effort。　Unbelief　strengthens　as　it　is　encouraged；　and　if　men；
instead　of　dwelling　upon　the　evidences　which　God　has　given　to　sustain　their
faith；　permit　themselves　to　question　and　cavil；　they　will　find　their　doubts
constantly　becoming　more　confirmed。

But　those　who　doubt　God's　promises　and　distrust　the　assurance　of　His　grace
are　dishonoring　Him；　and　their　influence；　instead　of　drawing　others　to
Christ；　tends　to　repel

528

them　from　Him。　They　are　unproductive　trees；　that　spread　their　dark　branches
far　and　wide；　shutting　away　the　sunlight　from　other　plants；　and　causing　them
to　droop　and　die　under　the　chilling　shadow。　The　lifework　of　these　persons
will　appear　as　a　never…ceasing　witness　against　them。　They　are　sowing　seeds
of　doubt　and　skepticism　that　will　yield　an　unfailing　harvest。

There　is　but　one　course　for　those　to　pursue　who　honestly　desire　to　be　freed
from　doubts。　Instead　of　questioning　and　caviling　concerning　that　which　they
do　not　understand；　let　them　give　heed　to　the　light　which　already　shines　upon
them；　and　they　will　receive　greater　light。　Let　them　do　every　duty　which　has
been　made　plain　to　their　understanding；　and　they　will　be　enabled　to
understand　and　perform　those　of　which　they　are　now　in　doubt。

Satan　can　present　a　counterfeit　so　closely　resembling　the　truth　that　it
deceives　those　who　are　willing　to　be　deceived；　who　desire　to　shun　the
self…denial　and　sacrifice　demanded　by　the　truth；　but　it　is　impossible　for
him　to　hold　under　his　power　one　soul　who　honestly　desires；　at　whatever　cost；
to　know　the　truth。　Christ　is　the　truth　and　the　〃Light；　which　lighteth　every
man　that　cometh　into　the　world。〃　John　1：9。　The　Spirit　of　truth　has　been　sent
to　guide　men　into　all　truth。　And　upon　the　authority　of　the　Son　of　God　it　is
declared：　〃Seek；　and　ye　shall　find。〃　〃If　any　man　will　do　His　will；　he　shall
know　of　the　doctrine。〃　Matthew　7：7；　John　7：17。

The　followers　of　Christ　know　little　of　the　plots　which　Satan　and　his　hosts
are　forming　against　them。　But　He　who　sitteth　in　the　heavens　will　overrule
all　these　devices　for　the　accomplishment　of　His　deep　designs。　The　Lord
permits　His　people　to　be　subjected　to　the　fiery　ordeal　of　temptation；　not
because　He　takes　pleasure　in　their　distress　and　affliction；　but　because　this
process　is　essential　to　their　final　victory。　He　could　not；　consistently　with
His　own　glory；　shield　them　from　temptation；　for　the　very　object　of　the　trial
is　to　prepare　them　to　resist　all　the　allurements　of　evil。

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Neither　wicked　men　nor　devils　can　hinder　the　work　of　God；　or　shut　out　His
presence　from　His　people；　if　they　will；　with　subdued；　contrite　hearts；
confess　and　put　away　their　sins；　and　in　faith　claim　His　promises。　Every
temptation；　every　opposing　influence；　whether　open　or　secret；　may　be
successfully　resisted；　〃not　by　might；　nor　by　power；　but　by　My　Spirit；　saith
the　Lord　of　hosts。〃　Zechariah　4：6。

〃The　eyes　of　the　Lord　are　over　the　righteous；　and　His　ears　are　open　unto
their　prayers。　。　。　。　And　who　is　he　that　will　harm　you；　if　ye　be　followers　of
that　which　is　good？〃　1　Peter　3：12；　13。　When　Balaam；　allured　by　the　promise
of　rich　rewards；　practiced　enchantments　against　Israel；　and　by　sacrifices　to
the　Lord　sought　to　invoke　a　curse　upon　His　people；　the　Spirit　of　God　forbade
the　evil　which　he　longed　to　pronounce；　and　Balaam　was　forced　to　exclaim：
〃How　shall　I　curse；　whom　God　hath　not　cursed？　or　how　shal