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Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
Cold, philosophical speculations and scientific research in which
God is not acknowledged are a positive injury. And the evil is ag-
gravated when, as is often the case, books placed in the hands of the
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young, accepted as authority and depended upon in their education,
are from authors avowedly infidel. Through all the thoughts pre-
sented by these men their poisonous sentiments are interwoven. The
study of such books is like handling black coals; a student cannot be
undefiled in mind who thinks along the line of skepticism.
The authors of these books, which have sown the seeds of doubt
and infidelity broadcast over the world, have been under the training
of the great enemy of God and man, the acknowledged head of
principalities and powers, the ruler of the darkness of this world.
The word that God has spoken concerning them is, “They ... became
vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools;” “because
that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither
were thankful.”
Romans 1:21, 22
. They rejected divine truth in its
simplicity and purity for the wisdom of this world.
Whenever books by these infidel authors are given the prece-
dence, and the word of God is made secondary, there will be sent
out of the schools a class of students no better fitted for the service
of God than they were before they received their education.
Cause of Opposition to the Bible
It is not for want of evidence that men doubt divine truth; they
are not infidels through ignorance of the character of the word of
God. But through sin the whole human organism is deranged, the
mind is perverted, the imagination corrupted. Temptations from
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without find an answering chord within the heart, and the feet slide
imperceptibly into sin. And so it is that many hate the Bible. Some
would not care if there were not a Bible in the world.
When the Son of God was on trial, the Jews cried out, “Away
with Him, crucify Him!” because His pure life and holy teaching
convicted them of sin and condemned them; and for the same reason
many in their hearts cry out against the word of God. Many, even of
the children and youth, have learned to love sin. They hate reflection,
and the thought of God is a sting to their conscience. It is because