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in, a discussion carried on between two who were not in the faith,
he became lifted up and thought himself sufficient to enter the battle
with anyone. And while he was so confident, he was, in the very
act, shorn of his strength. God was displeased with his disregard of
the counsel of Brother Andrews. His self-sufficient spirit came near
making that discussion an utter failure. Unless there is a decided gain
in these combats, there is always a loss. They should never be rushed
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into heedlessly, but every move should be made cautiously, with the
greatest wisdom, for far more is pending than in a national battle.
Satan and his host are all astir at these conflicts between truth and
error, and if the advocates of truth do not go into battle in the strength
of God, Satan will manage to outgeneral them every time.
In the second combat there was much, very much at stake. Yet
here again Brother F failed. He did not engage in that conflict feeling
his weakness and in humility and simplicity relying upon the strength
of God. He again felt a sufficiency in himself. His past successes had
lifted him up. He thought that the victories he had gained were very
much due to his aptness in using the powerful arguments furnished in
the word of God.
I was shown that the advocates of truth should not seek discussions.
And whenever it is necessary for the advancement of the cause of truth
and the glory of God that an opponent be met, how carefully and with
what humility should they go into the conflict. With heart-searching,
confession of sin, and earnest prayer, and often fasting for a time,
they should entreat that God would especially help them and give His
saving, precious truth a glorious victory, that error might appear in its
true deformity and its advocates be completely discomfited. Those
who battle for the truth, against its opposers, should realize that they
are not meeting merely men, but that they are contending with Satan
and his angels, who are determined that error and darkness shall retain
the field and the truth be covered up with error. As error is most in
accordance with the natural heart, it is taken for granted to be clear.
Men who are at ease love error and darkness, and are unwilling to be
reformed by the truth. They do not love to come to the light, lest their
deeds should be reproved.
If those who stand in vindication of the truth, trust to the weight
of argument, with but a feeble reliance upon God, and thus meet their
opponents, nothing will be gained on the side of truth, but there will
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