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Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
The sophistries regarding God and nature that are flooding the
world with skepticism are the inspiration of the fallen foe, who is
himself a Bible student, who knows the truth that it is essential for the
people to receive, and whose study it is to divert minds from the great
truths given to prepare them for what is coming upon the world.
I have seen the results of these fanciful views of God, in apostasy,
spiritualism, and free-lovism. The free love tendency of these teach-
ings was so concealed that at first it was difficult to make plain its real
character. Until the Lord presented it to me, I knew not what to call it,
but I was instructed to call it unholy spiritual love.
Fanaticism After 1844
After the passing of the time in 1844, we had fanaticism of every
kind to meet. Testimonies of reproof were given me to bear to some
holding spiritualistic theories.
There were those who were active in disseminating false ideas in
regard to God. Light was given me that these men were making the
truth of no effect by their false teachings. I was instructed that they
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were misleading souls by presenting speculative theories regarding
God.
I went to the place where they were and opened before them the
nature of their work. The Lord gave me strength to lay plainly before
them their danger. Among other views they held that those who were
once sanctified could not sin. Their false teaching was working great
harm to themselves and to others. They were gaining a spiritualistic
power over those who could not see the evil of these beautifully clothed
theories. The doctrine that all were holy had led to the belief that the
affections of the sanctified would never lead astray. The result of this
belief was the fulfillment of the evil desires of hearts that, though
professedly sanctified, were far from purity of thought and life.
Ungodly teaching is followed by sinful practice. It is the seducing
bait of the father of lies, and results in the impenitence of self-satisfied
impurity.
This is only one of the instances in which I was called upon to
rebuke those who were presenting the doctrine of an impersonal God
pervading all nature, and similar errors.