Editorial

Editorial – Types and Shadows, Part VIII

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When Christ told Peter that unless he submitted to this service, he could have no part with him, Peter surrendered his pride and self-will. This can never, never be. He was all broken up at the thought, and exclaimed, ‘Not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.’ Jesus had a lesson, deep, full, and significant: ‘He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.’ [John 13:9, 10.] The true version reads, ‘He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet.’ That lesson comprehended more than bodily cleansing. The feet of Judas were washed, but his heart was defiled with sin. In the very act of girding himself with a towel to wash the feet of his disciples, Jesus would subdue and cleanse them from their alienation, and dissension, and jealousy, and pride. Not one of them was in an acceptable state before God, with such a spirit of unhappy dissension. The renewed heart, cleansed from every defilement, was of far more consequence than the outward application of water to their dusty feet. Jesus could not give them the lessons he so much desired to impart unless they would come into a proper state of humility and affection. Dissension always creates hatred, but Christ washed it away in the act of washing his disciples’ feet. A change of feeling did come; the union of heart and love for one another did exist. They became meek, teachable, and loving, and would have conceded to any one the highest place. They were prepared to partake of the last supper with fragrant feelings of love, deep and full, for their Master and for one another.

“Shall we learn the lesson of the marvelous wisdom and love of God? Shall we, at the ordinance of feet-washing, be softened and subdued, as were the first disciples? Peter shrank from bringing his soiled feet in touch with the hands of his Lord and Master; yet how often we bring our sinful, polluted souls in contact with the heart of Christ, who hates nothing but sin. O, how we grieve the pure, holy Spirit of Christ with our defiling sins! We are not prepared for the appreciation of the holy communion with Christ and with one another unless we are cleansed by his efficacy.

“We need closely to investigate our life and character, and have true contrition of soul, having fellowship with Christ and fellowship with our brethren. Then we shall show that we can appreciate the work of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts. The barriers of pride, of self-sufficiency, are first to be broken down; then the love of Jesus will abound in our hearts. Then we can partake of the communion with a consciousness of sins forgiven; for whosoever sits down at the communion service should sit down humble and clean in heart, and purified from all defilement. Then the sunshine of Christ’s righteousness will fill the chambers of our minds and the soul temple. We shall ‘behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ [John 1:29.]” Review and Herald, July 5, 1898.

Editorial – The “Impossible” Possibility

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There will be a people in the world, just before Jesus comes, who are able to get along peaceably together while upholding all the truth that Jesus taught.

“He [Christ] came to represent the Father. He said, ‘He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.’ [John 14:9.] He prayed that his disciples might be one with him, even as he was one with the Father. Men have declared that this oneness with Christ is an impossibility, but Christ has made it possible by bringing us into harmony with himself, through the merits of his life and sacrifice.” The Signs of the Times, April 15, 1889.

“By submitting to God’s discipline, Moses became a channel through which the Lord could work. He did not hesitate to change his way for the Lord’s way, even tho it did lead him in strange, untried paths. He placed a very low estimate on his own ability to carry forward successfully the great work entrusted to him. But he did not endeavor to show the unreasonableness of God’s commands, and the impossibility of obeying them. To all human appearances, he had started out in a hopeless undertaking; but he put his trust in Him with whom all things are possible, and went forward without faltering.” Ibid., July 12, 1905.

“Let every one act his part in self-denial and self-sacrifice. Our people are not to wait for more appeals, but are to lay right hold of the work, making those things which appear impossibilities, possibilities. Let each one ask himself, Has not the Lord entrusted me with means for the advancement of his cause? Has he not bidden his servants in Washington arise and build? Shall I, at this time of great importance, withhold my means, which God asks me to invest in raising up memorials for him?” Review and Herald, July 14, 1904.

“Those persons who refuse to move forward until they see every step plainly marked out before them, will never accomplish much; but every man who shows his faith and trust in God by willingly submitting himself to him, enduring the divine discipline imposed, will become a successful workman for the Master of the vineyard. In their efforts to qualify themselves to be co-laborers with God, men frequently place themselves in such positions as will completely disqualify them for the molding and fashioning which the Lord desires to give them. Thus they are not found bearing, as did Moses, the divine similitude. By submitting to God’s discipline, Moses became a sanctified channel through which the Lord could work. He did not hesitate to change his way for the Lord’s way, even though it did lead in strange paths, in untried ways. He did not permit himself to make use of his education by showing the unreasonableness of God’s commands, and the impossibility of obeying them. No; he placed a very low estimate upon his own qualifications to complete successfully the great work which the Lord had given him. When he started on his commission to deliver the people of God from their bondage, to all human appearances it was a most hopeless undertaking; but he confided in him with whom all things are possible.” Special Testimonies on Education, 119.

“The apostle [Paul] could never forget his conversion from a persecutor of all who believe on Christ, to a believer in Him. . . . He received strength in prayer, and as a faithful soldier of Christ he ever looked to his Captain for orders. No amount of obstacles piled up before him, could cause him to regard the work as an impossibility, for he realized that ‘all things are possible to them that believe.’ [Mark 9:23.]” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1065.

Editorial – Conflict

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In the Scriptures, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, and of the increase of His government and peace there is to be no end. (Isaiah 9:7.) In the Sermon on the Mount, the peacemakers are called the sons of God, and, as far as possible, we are to be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18.)

Nevertheless, for 6,000 years or so, Jesus and those angels loyal to Him have been in a most fierce, bitter conflict. (See Revelation 12:7.) Anyone who wishes to acknowledge Jesus as their Supreme Sovereign, as well as their Saviour from sin, must also enter this conflict. What is this conflict about?

“As the church approaches her final deliverance, Satan is to work with greater power. . . . All the depths of satanic skill and subtlety acquired, all the cruelty developed, during these struggles of the ages, will be brought to bear against God’s people in the final conflict. And in this time of peril the followers of Christ are to bear to the world the warning of the Lord’s second advent; and a people are to be prepared to stand before Him at His coming, ‘without spot, and blameless.’ 11 Peter 3:14.” The Great Controversy, ix, x.

“The apostles were sometimes cast down in the conflict with evil men and evil angels, yet by the grace of God they were enabled to rise and press once more to the front. Their preservation under manifold dangers testified that Jesus lived. Deliverance, support, consolation, and fortitude came to them as they endured suffering for the Redeemer’s sake.” Review and Herald, May 6, 1902.

“The redeemed only, of all created beings, have in their own experience known the actual conflict with sin; they have wrought with Christ, and, as even the angels could not do, have entered into the fellowship of His sufferings.” Education, 308.

“The Christian life is a battle and a march. But the victory to be gained is not won by human power. The field of conflict is the domain of the heart. The battle which we have to fight—the greatest battle that was ever fought by man—is the surrender of self to the will of God, the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love. The old nature, born of blood and of the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up.

“He who determines to enter the spiritual kingdom will find that all the powers and passions of an unregenerate nature, backed by the forces of the kingdom of darkness, are arrayed against him. . . . We cannot, of ourselves, conquer the evil desires and habits that strive for the mastery. We cannot overcome the mighty foe who holds us in his thrall. God alone can give us the victory. He desires us to have the mastery over ourselves, our own will and ways. But He cannot work in us without our consent and co-operation. . . .

“The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step. Our will is not to be forced into co-operation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily submitted. Were it possible to force upon you with a hundredfold greater intensity the influence of the Spirit of God, it would not make you a Christian, a fit subject for heaven. The stronghold of Satan would not be broken. The will must be placed on the side of God’s will. You are not able, of yourself, to bring your purposes and desires and inclinations into submission to the will of God; but if you are ‘willing to be made willing,’ God will accomplish the work for you . . . .” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 141, 142.

Editorial – Pre-Advent or Investigative Judgment

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I [Ellen White] have been shown that many who profess to have a knowledge of present truth know not what they believe. They do not understand the evidences of their faith. They have no just appreciation of the work for the present time. When the time of trial shall come, there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason. Until thus tested they knew not their great ignorance. And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth. Certain it is that there has been among us a departure from the living God and a turning to men, putting human in place of divine wisdom.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 707.

Friend, how is it with you? Do you know what you believe? Do you know what the landmark doctrines of Adventism are, and can you substantiate them from the Scriptures?

Here are the landmark doctrines: “The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God’s people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels’ messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, ‘The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God’s law. The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I [Ellen White] can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old landmarks.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 30, 31.

Another term for the cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven is the judgment or the investigative judgment. Can you substantiate this from the Bible alone?

This doctrine is under attack both within and without God’s professed remnant people.

Any judgment, even in human courts, has three phases: the first or investigative phase is when hearings and court trials occur; the second phase is the sentencing; the third phase is the execution of the sentence. If you are acquitted in the first phase, you do not have to participate in receiving the second and third phases of the judgment. The same is true of God’s judgment.

Before Jesus comes, it will be determined who will be saved and who will be lost. (See Revelation 22:11, 12.) If you have not been acquitted in the first phase of the judgment, you will be sentenced during the millennium. (See Revelation 20:1–6.) The sentence will be executed upon you after the end of the millennium. (See Revelation 20:7–15.)

Contrary to what our adversaries thrust against us, the Bible clearly predicts a pre-advent or investigative judgment. In fact, the Bible even tells us who the prosecuting attorney is in this judgment. It is the devil. (See Zechariah 3:1–10.) The defending advocate of His people is Jesus Christ. (See Zechariah 3 and 1 John 2:1.)

If you are a beginning Bible student and want to study scriptures that clearly teach a pre-advent investigative judgment, following is a list of Scriptures to help you get started: (1) Daniel 7. Notice especially the language in verses 9, 10, 25, and 26. (2) Daniel 8. The continuance in rebellion and the depopulating or desolating rebellion are descriptions of the first major rebellion against God’s Law, which was paganism or heathenism and was continual for the first 4,500 years of human history. The second rebellion, the desolating rebellion, is a description of the apostasy of the latter times, which began to develop in the days of the apostles and became worldwide in scope 500 years later. It will continue until the Second Advent of Christ. (3) Zechariah 3; (4) Isaiah 2, 3, and 4; (5) Micah 4; (6) Matthew 22:1–14; (7) Hebrews 8, 9, 10, and 12; and (8) Revelation 11.

Editorial – Unity and Dissonance

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The same thing that happened at the beginning of the great controversy will happen again at its close. At the beginning of the great controversy, a large percentage, but less than 50 percent, of the angels decided to rebel with Lucifer. At the end, almost the entire world will worship Lucifer, thinking that he is Christ. The few who refuse will arouse such great anger by the peoples of the world that they will determine to put to death all those who refuse. “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Revelation 13:15.

There is only one way that you will survive this coming conflict: “The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested. . . . None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.” The Great Controversy, 593, 594.

How and why will almost all, including the majority in Adventism, be deceived and lost? The prayer of Christ (John 17) was for all of His followers to be in unity (verse 21). In the last great crisis, it will appear as though this prayer has finally been answered.

“I [Ellen White] saw our people in great distress, weeping, and praying, pleading the sure promises of God, while the wicked were all around us, mocking us, and threatening to destroy us. They ridiculed our feebleness, they mocked at the smallness of our numbers, and taunted us with words calculated to cut deep. . . . They declared that they had the truth, that miracles were among them, that angels from heaven talked with them, and walked with them, that great power, and signs and wonders were performed among them, and this was the Temporal Millennium, which they had been expecting so long. The whole world was converted and in harmony with the Sunday law, and this little feeble people stood out in defiance of the laws of the land, and the laws of God, and claimed to be the only ones right on the earth.” Maranatha, 209. [Emphasis supplied.]

At the beginning of the controversy, Lucifer rejected the arguments and entreaties of the loyal angels with disdain and denounced them as deluded slaves. (Patriarchs and Prophets, 40.) “The very work which he himself was doing, he charged upon the loyal angels.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 41. “The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan charged upon the government of God.” Ibid., 42.

This same policy will be used at the end of time, and it will be used upon the faithful people of God—first by the leaders in the professed remnant church and then later by the world at large. That which the devil and his agents are actually doing will be charged upon the faithful people of God, His true church.

To be continued . . .

Editorial – Unity and Dissonance, Part II

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In last month’s editorial, it was shown that Satan’s practice of blame, which he has always used, will be used at the end of time. It will be used upon the faithful people of God—first by the leaders in the professed remnant church and then later by the world at large. We will now investigate this in the form of questions and answers:

  1. At the end of time, from where will the worst opposition to God’s faithful people come?

Answer: “The opposition which Christ received came from his own nation, who would have been greatly blessed had they accepted him. In like manner the remnant church receive opposition from those who profess to be their brethren.” Review and Herald, August 28, 1883.

“The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work, will renounce the faith and take their stand with its avowed enemies, toward whom their sympathies have long been tending. These apostates will then manifest the most bitter enmity, doing all in their power to oppress and malign their former brethren and to excite indignation against them. This day is just before us. The members of the church will individually be tested and proved. They will be placed in circumstances where they will be forced to bear witness for the truth. Many will be called to speak before councils and in courts of justice, perhaps separately and alone.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 463. (See also The Great Controversy, 608.)

  1. What will be one of the initial attacks against God’s faithful people by their professed brethren?

Answer: One of the initial attacks, which has already occurred many times in the last few years, is that God’s faithful people should be accountable to the church organization and that these believers are offshoots because they are not accountable to the church organization. It is asserted that they believe that the church organization has no right to control their operations in any way. This type of attack has existed since before the days of Madison, an independent school co-founded by E. A. Sutherland and P. T. Magan near Nashville, Tennessee (1904), but we will only document since that time.

“The Lord does not set limits about His workers in some lines as men are wont to set. In their work, Brethren Magan and Sutherland have been hindered unnecessarily. Means have been withheld from them because in the organization and management of the Madison school, it was not placed under the control of the conference. But the reasons why this school was not owned and controlled by the conference have not been duly considered.” Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 11, 31, 32.

“In the matter of the Madison school, there has been a standing off from them because they were not under the ownership and control of some Conference. This is a question that should sometimes be considered, but it is not the Lord’s plan that means should be withheld from Madison because they are not bound to the conference. The attitude which some of our brethren have assumed toward this enterprise shows that it is not wise for every working agency to be under the dictation of conference officers. There are some enterprises under certain conditions, that will produce better results if standing alone.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 202.

To be continued . . .

Editorial – Unity and Dissonance, Part III

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In this editorial, we will continue looking at how God’s faithful people at the end will be opposed—first from the professed church and later from the world. We saw in a previous editorial that one of the initial attacks against God’s people by their professed brethren will be the charge that they are not accountable to the church organization, as it is claimed they should be. This is the same attack that was made against John the Baptist at the first coming of Christ. It was made repeatedly against Jesus, and it was also made against the apostle Paul.

“There are but few who perceive the full import of the words of Christ, when in the synagogue at Nazareth he announced himself as the Anointed One. He declared his mission to comfort, bless, and save the sorrowing and the sinful, and then, seeing that pride and unbelief controlled the hearts of his hearers, he reminded them how God had in time past turned away from his chosen people, because of their unbelief and rebellion, and had manifested himself to those in a heathen land who had not rejected the light from Heaven. The widow of Sarepta and Naaman the Syrian had lived up to all the light they had. Hence they were accounted more righteous than God’s chosen people who had backslidden from him, and sacrificed principle to convenience and worldly honor.

“It is impossible for the worldly and pleasure-loving to rightly value the messages of warning and reproof which God sends to correct the errors of his people. They cannot distinguish between the earnestness and zeal of the faithful servant, and the trifling, superficial spirit of him who is unfaithful. One declares that the sword is coming; the other puts far off the evil day. One faithfully reproves sin; the other excuses and palliates it. As the professed people of God depart from him and lose the simplicity of the faith, the words of his messengers seem to them unnecessarily harsh and severe. They cherish prejudice and unbelief, and finally place themselves fully on Satan’s side. His suggestions seem pleasant and palatable; they are controlled, in spirit and opinion, by the arch-deceiver, and having permitted him to direct their thoughts, they soon permit him to direct their actions.

“Christ presented before the assembly at Nazareth a fearful truth when he declared that with backsliding Israel there was no safety for the faithful messenger of God. They would not know his worth, or appreciate his labors. While they professed to have great zeal for the honor of God and the good of Israel, they were the worst enemies of both. They were by precept and example leading the people farther and farther from obedience to God and purity and simplicity of faith,—leading them where he could not reveal himself as their defense in the day of trouble. God sent Elijah to the widow of Sarepta, because he could not trust him with Israel.

“These cutting reproofs, though presented by the Majesty of Heaven, the Jews of Nazareth refused to hear. . . . Those men of Nazareth manifested the same spirit toward Christ which their forefathers had manifested toward Elijah. Blinded by Satan, they could not perceive the divine character of the Son of God, or appreciate the truth and purity of his instructions. . . .

“There is the same dislike of reproof and correction among the professed people of God today as in the days of our Saviour. There is the same disposition to lean toward the world and to follow its mocking shadows. The presence of ambitious, selfish, time-serving members is imperiling the church, whose greatest danger is from worldly conformity.” Sketches From the Life of Paul, 229–233.

To be continued . . .

Editorial – Unity and Dissonance, Part IV

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I want my brethren to begin to understand some things for themselves. God alone, by the quickening, vivifying influence of His Holy Spirit, can enable men to distinguish between the sacred and the common. God alone can make men understand that working on regular lines has led to irregular practices. God alone can make men’s minds as they should be. The time has come when we should hear less in favor of the regular lines. If we can get away from the regular lines into something which, though irregular, is after God’s order, it may cut away something of the irregular working which has led away from Bible principles.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 143.

“The Conference should understand that it has no right to send a man to take the work out of the hands of one who has done the hard labor, gaining his way little by little, by hard strokes, the Lord working with him, and giving him his hire in souls for his labor.

“Study the action of Christ, as recorded in John 4:1–3. In regard to the property which Brother Shireman has built up, let no selfish greed force him to make it over to the Conference. There may be other places where he should work, and he should have something with which to operate. If he were called away suddenly, he could make this property over to some one he could trust. He should be allowed to control his own property, the results of his hard labor, and never feel himself destitute.

“Brother Shireman will always need helpers, but not men who will seek to set him aside and supersede him. His helpers should be men of fine perceptions and delicacy of feeling, who will give credit where credit is due, who will not ignore the one used by God to do the hard, pioneer labor.

“How dare any one minister or lay member, bar the way of God’s servants by unjust, unfeeling speeches? But this has been done, and thereby some laborers have been discouraged and many souls lost who might have been saved. Those who do this work are not prompted by the Spirit of God, but by another Spirit. Scornful criticisms and discourteous remarks are from Satan.” Spalding and Magan Collection, 192, 193.

“Great light is shining, and some have received the precious light, and hold it fast with rejoicing. But Satan has had too great power even over these. They have not had a zeal and wide-awake, unselfish interest corresponding with the truth they believe. Love has been wanting, and its absence greatly pleases our wily foe. He is the author of malice, envy, jealousy, hatred, and dissension, and he rejoices to see these weeds choke out love, that tender plant of heavenly growth. In his providence, God permits those who, deluded by the enemy, have chosen fables instead of unadulterated truth, to entertain the same feelings toward commandment-keepers that the Jewish nation had toward their Master,—feelings that led them to reject him as the promised Messiah, and delivered him up to suffer a cruel death. And as the people of God meet with opposition from the powers of darkness and the ungodly around them, they are drawn nearer to each other.” Review and Herald, August 12, 1884.

Editorial – Unity and Dissonance, Part V

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In approaching the end of the world, God’s people must remember that we need to counsel with one another and with the Lord at each step of advance. On the other hand, we must know that there is a time when the Lord forbids us to counsel with our “brethren.” Inspired counsel and examples are given to us about this subject.

“Do not refuse to unite with your brethren, fearing that if you put yourself on an equality with them you will not be able to do all that your own judgment might suggest. God’s workers are to counsel together. Ministers, physicians, or directors are walking in false paths when they regard themselves as a complete whole; when they feel no need of counsel from men of experience, who have been led by the Lord, who, as they have moved forward in self-denial to advance the work, have given evidence that they were led and controlled by the Holy Spirit and were thus enabled to speak and plan and act wisely and understandingly.” Medical Ministry, 46, 47.

“I [Ellen White] have no confidence in the smartest men that ever lived unless they are under the control of God. They may have natural capabilities and talents, but unless they are guided by the Holy Spirit, they will be controlled by some one else.” Australasian Union Conference Record, July 28, 1899.

“Unless our eyes, our ears, our tongues, are under the control of the Holy Spirit, and guided by divine power, they cannot be trusted.” Review and Herald, August 13, 1895.

“If changes are to be made, we must know what counsel to give and what changes to make, and how to present every line of work intelligently. Decided changes are to be made in every one of our churches in America, but everything cannot be introduced now. The working of the Holy Spirit must be seen, and this Spirit is not to be controlled by any human plans or methods. There are plans to be established in every church. God will work Himself, and men must cooperate.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, 51.

“One man’s mind, one man’s judgment, is not to be a controlling power. . . . ‘Counsel together, counsel together,’ has been repeated to me by the heavenly angels for the past forty-five years. At the same time you must constantly feel the need of higher counsel. Do not fail to seek wisdom from God. Unless you do go to God for wisdom, and understand for yourselves the way of the Lord, you will not be able to understand things clearly. You must have the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to give you clear views of Jesus and His love.—Letter 34, 1891.” Manuscript Releases 311, 24.

“If it were possible, the enemy would clog the wheels of progress, and prevent the truths of the gospel from being circulated everywhere. With this object he leads men to feel that it is their privilege to control the consciences of their fellow-men according to their own perverted ideas. They dismiss the Holy Spirit from their counsels, and then, under the power and name of the General Conference, they invent regulations through which they compel men to be ruled by their own ideas and not by the Holy Spirit.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 4, 1527.

To be continued . . .

Editorial – Unity and Dissonance, Part VI

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Through this series on “Unity and Dissonance,” we have looked at how God’s faithful people at the end will be opposed—first by the professed church and later by the world. We have seen that one of the initial attacks against God’s people by their professed brethren will be the charge that they are not accountable to the church organization, as it is claimed they should be. This is the same attack that was made against John the Baptist at the first coming of Christ. It was made repeatedly against Jesus, and it was also made against the apostle Paul.

God’s people must remember as well that we need to counsel with one another and with the Lord at each step of advancement. On the other hand, we must know that there is a time when the Lord forbids us to counsel with our “brethren.” Inspired counsel has been given to us about this subject.

“A man can not safely be intrusted [sic] with the control of others, unless he himself is under the satisfaction of the Holy Spirit.” Bible Training School, January 1, 1908.

“Honor is to be given to the human powers by putting them to the very highest use in the service of God. Under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit, all may be co-laborers with God. All whom God has blessed with reasoning powers are to become intellectual Christians. They are not requested to believe without evidence; therefore Jesus has enjoined upon all to search the Scriptures. Let the ingenious inquirer, and the one who would know for himself what is truth, exert his mental powers to search out the truth as it is in Jesus. Any neglect here is at the peril of the soul. We must know individually the prescribed conditions of entering into eternal life. We must know what is the voice of God, that we may live by every word that proceeds out of his mouth. We cannot allow these questions to be settled for us by another’s mind, or another’s judgment.” Review and Herald, March 8, 1887.

“John had not recognized the authority of the Sanhedrin by seeking their sanction for his work; and he had reproved rulers and people, Pharisees and Sadducees alike. Yet the people followed him eagerly. The interest in his work seemed to be continually increasing. Though he had not deferred to them, the Sanhedrin accounted that, as a public teacher, he was under their jurisdiction.” The Desire of Ages, 132, 133.

“From childhood He [Christ] acted independently of the rabbinical laws.” Ibid., 84.

“In His instruction to Moses the Lord very plainly set forth the character of those who were to fill important positions as counselors. They are to be ‘able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.’ [Exodus 18:21.] The Lord’s counsel has been strangely neglected. There are men in places of holy trust who, when reproved, have cared nought for it. Some who for years have stood as counselors have boldly stated that they would not receive the testimonies given. In triumph they have declared that many of our most responsible men have lost faith in the message coming from Sister White. Thus the rejecters of light have been strengthened in their unbelief, feeling that they had quite a strong confederacy. Men who have had the light have walked contrary to the light. These words are appropriate: ‘Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.’ The malaria of unbelief has been diffusing its deathly atmosphere throughout the ranks, nigh and afar off. All this has been stated plainly, yet for years matters have been left unchanged. Can the Lord’s favor be expected under such circumstances? . . .” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 341, 342.