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a savor of life unto life。
Again； Satan sees the Lord's servants burdened because of the spiritual
darkness that enshrouds the people。 He hears their earnest prayers for
divine grace and power to break the spell of indifference； carelessness； and
indolence。 Then with renewed zeal he plies his arts。 He tempts men to the
indulgence of appetite or to some other form of self…gratification； and thus
benumbs their sensibilities so that they fail to hear the very things which
they most need to learn。
Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the
searching of the Scriptures； will be overcome by his attacks。 Therefore he
invents every possible device to engross the mind。 There has ever been a
class professing godliness； who； instead of following on to know the truth；
make it their religion to seek some fault of character or error of faith in
those with whom they do not agree。 Such are Satan's right…hand helpers。
Accusers of the brethren are not few； and they are always active when God is
at work and His servants are rendering Him true homage。 They will put a
false coloring upon the words and acts of those who love and obey the truth。
They will represent the most earnest； zealous； self…denying servants of
Christ as deceived or deceivers。 It is their work to misrepresent the
motives of every true and noble deed； to circulate insinuations； and arouse
suspicion in the minds of the inexperienced。 In every conceivable manner
they will seek to cause that which is pure and righteous to be regarded as
foul and deceptive。
But none need be deceived concerning them。 It may be readily seen whose
children they are； whose example they follow； and whose work they do。 〃Ye
shall know them by
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their fruits。〃 Matthew 7：16。 Their course resembles that of Satan； the
envenomed slanderer； 〃the accuser of our brethren。〃 Revelation 12：10。
The great deceiver has many agents ready to present any and every kind of
error to ensnare soulsheresies prepared to suit the varied tastes and
capacities of those whom he would ruin。 It is his plan to bring into the
church insincere； unregenerate elements that will encourage doubt and
unbelief； and hinder all who desire to see the work of God advance and to
advance with it。 Many who have no real faith in God or in His word assent to
some principles of truth and pass as Christians； and thus they are enabled
to introduce their errors as Scriptural doctrines。
The position that it is of no consequence what men believe is one of Satan's
most successful deceptions。 He knows that the truth； received in the love of
it； sanctifies the soul of the receiver； therefore he is constantly seeking
to substitute false theories； fables； another gospel。 From the beginning the
servants of God have contended against false teachers； not merely as vicious
men； but as inculcators of falsehoods that were fatal to the soul。 Elijah；
Jeremiah； Paul； firmly and fearlessly opposed those who were turning men
from the word of God。 That liberality which regards a correct religious
faith as unimportant found no favor with these holy defenders of the truth。
The vague and fanciful interpretations of Scripture； and the many
conflicting theories concerning religious faith； that are found in the
Christian world are the work of our great adversary to confuse minds so that
they shall not discern the truth。 And the discord and division which exist
among the churches of Christendom are in a great measure due to the
prevailing custom of wresting the Scriptures to support a favorite theory。
Instead of carefully studying God's word with humility of heart to obtain a
knowledge of His will； many seek only to discover something odd or original。
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In order to sustain erroneous doctrines or unchristian practices； some will
seize upon passages of Scripture separated from the context； perhaps quoting
half of a single verse as proving their point； when the remaining portion
would show the meaning to be quite the opposite。 With the cunning of the
serpent they entrench themselves behind disconnected utterances construed to
suit their carnal desires。 Thus do many willfully pervert the word of God。
Others； who have an active imagination； seize upon the figures and symbols
of Holy Writ； interpret them to suit their fancy； with little regard to the
testimony of Scripture as its own interpreter； and then they present their
vagaries as the teachings of the Bible。
Whenever the study of the Scriptures is entered upon without a prayerful；
humble； teachable spirit； the plainest and simplest as well as the most
difficult passages will be wrested from their true meaning。 The papal
leaders select such portions of Scripture as best serve their purpose；
interpret to suit themselves； and then present these to the people； while
they deny them the privilege of studying the Bible and understanding its
sacred truths for themselves。 The whole Bible should be given to the people
just as it reads。 It would be better for them not to have Bible instruction
at all than to have the teaching of the Scriptures thus grossly
misrepresented。
The Bible was designed to be a guide to all who wish to become acquainted
with the will of their Maker。 God gave to men the sure word of prophecy；
angels and even Christ Himself came to make known to Daniel and John the
things that must shortly come to pass。 Those important matters that concern
our salvation were not left involved in mystery。 They were not revealed in
such a way as to perplex and mislead the honest seeker after truth。 Said the
Lord by the prophet Habakkuk： 〃Write the vision； and make it plain； 。 。 。
that he may run that readeth it。〃 Habakkuk 2：2。 The word of God is plain to
all who study it with a prayerful
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heart。 Every truly honest soul will come to the light of truth。 〃Light is
sown for the righteous。〃 Psalm 97：11。 And no church can advance in holiness
unless its members are earnestly seeking for truth as for hid treasure。
By the cry； Liberality； men are blinded to the devices of their adversary；
while he is all the time working steadily for the accomplishment of his
object。 As he succeeds in supplanting the Bible by human speculations； the
law of God is set aside； and the churches are under the bondage of sin while
they claim to be free。
To many； scientific research has become a curse。 God has permitted a flood
of light to be poured upon the world in discoveries in science and art； but
even the greatest minds； if not guided by the word of God in their research；
become bewildered in their attempts to investigate the relations of science
and revelation。
Human knowledge of both material and spiritual things is partial and
imperfect； therefore many are unable to harmonize their views of science
with Scripture statements。 Many accept mere theories and speculations as
scientific facts； and they think that God's word is to be tested by the
teachings of 〃science falsely so called。〃 1 Timothy 6：20。 The Creator and
His works are beyond their comprehension； and because they cannot explain
these by natural laws； Bible history is regarded as unreliable。 Those who
doubt the reliability of the records of the Old and New Testaments too often
go a step further and doubt the existence of God and attribute infinite
power to nature。 Having let go their anchor； they are left to beat about
upon the rocks of infidelity。
Thus many err from the faith and are seduced by the devil。 Men have
endeavored to be wiser than their Creator； human philosophy has attempted to
search out and explain mysteries which will never be revealed through the
eternal ages。 If men would but search and understand what God had made known
of Himself and His purposes； they would obtain such a view of the glory；
majesty； and power of Jehovah that
523
they would realize their own littleness and would be content with that which
has been revealed for themselves and their children。
It is a masterpiece of Satan's deceptions to keep the minds of men searching
and conjecturing in regard to that which God has not made known and which He
does not intend that we shall understand。 It was thus that Lucifer lost his
place in heaven。 He became dissatisfied because all the secrets of God's
purposes were not confided to him； and he entirely disregarded that which
was revealed concerning his own work in the lofty position assigned him。 By
arousing the same discontent in the angels under his command； he caused
their fall。 Now he seeks to imbue the minds of men with the same spirit and
to lead them also to disregard the direct commands of God。
Those who are unwilling to accept the plain； cutting truths of the Bible are
continually seeking for pleasing fables that will quiet the conscience。 The
less spiritual； self…denying； and humiliating the doctrines presented； the
greater the favor with which they are received。 These persons degrade the
intellectual powers to serve their carnal desires。 Too wise in their own
conceit to search the Scriptures with contrition of soul and earnest prayer
for divi