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Selected Messages Book 1
In the days of the apostles the most foolish heresies were pre-
sented as truth. History has been and will be repeated. There will
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always be those who, though apparently conscientious, will grasp at
the shadow, preferring it to the substance. They take error in the place
of truth, because error is clothed with a new garment, which they think
covers something wonderful. But let the covering be removed, and
nothingness appears.—
The Review and Herald, February 5, 1901
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Questions of Eternal Import
Dwell upon the lessons that Christ dwelt upon. Present them to the
people as He presented them. Dwell upon questions that concern our
eternal welfare. Anything that the enemy can devise to divert the mind
from God’s Word, anything new and strange that he can originate to
create a diversity of sentiment, he will introduce as something wonder-
fully important. But those things that we cannot clearly comprehend
are not a tenth as important to us as are the truths of God’s Word that
we can clearly comprehend and bring into our daily life. We are to
teach the people the lessons that Christ brought into His teachings
from the Old Testament Scriptures. The language of divine truth is
exceedingly plain.—
Letter 16, 1903
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Points Unnecessary for Faith
There are many questions treated upon that are not necessary for
the perfection of the faith. We have no time for their study. Many
things are above finite comprehension. Truths are to be received not
within the reach of our reason, and not for us to explain. Revelation
presents them to us to be implicitly received as the words of an infinite
God. While every ingenious inquirer is to search out the truth as it is in
Jesus, there are things not yet simplified, statements that human minds
cannot grasp and reason out, without being liable to make human
calculation and explanations, which will not prove a savor of life unto
life.
But every truth which is essential for us to bring into our practical
life, which concerns the salvation of the soul, is made very clear and
positive.—
Letter 8, 1895
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