Mind Controlling Mind
263
lordly oppression, no compulsion of manner. The angels of heaven do
not come to the earth to rule and to exact homage, but as messengers
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of mercy, to cooperate with men in uplifting humanity.—
The Desire
of Ages, 550, 551
(1898).
Human minds are not to be trammeled and harnessed up and driven
by human hands.—MS 43, 1895.
Individuality to Be Exercised—God permits every person to ex-
ercise his individuality. No human mind should be submerged in
another human mind For us to imitate the example of any man—even
a person who in our human judgment we might regard as nearly per-
fect in character—would be to put our trust in an imperfect, defective
human being, who is unable to impart one jot or tittle of perfection to
any other human being.—Lt 20, 1902. (HC 108.)
Unity Without Submerged Identity—We are now to unify.... But
let us remember that Christian unity does not mean that the identity
of one person is to be submerged in that of another, nor does it mean
that the mind of one is to be led and controlled by the mind of another.
God has not given to any man the power that some, by word and act,
seek to claim. God requires every man to stand free and to follow the
directions of the word.—
Testimonies for the Church 8:212
(1904).
Allegiance to God Versus Allegiance to Men [
See chapter 29,
“Dependence and Independence.”
]—You belong to God, soul, body,
and spirit. Your mind belongs to God, and your talents belong to
Him also. No one has a right to control another’s mind and judge
for another, prescribing what is his duty. There are certain rights that
belong to every individual in doing God’s service. No man has any
more liberty to take these rights from us than to take life itself. God
has given us freedom to think, and it is our privilege to follow our
impressions of duty. We are only human beings, and one human being
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has no jurisdiction over the conscience of another human being Each
one of us has an individuality and identity that cannot be surrendered
to any other human being. We are individually the workmanship of
God.—Lt 92, 1895.
Ministers to Direct Parishioners to God—God alone is to be the
guide of man’s conscience. The truth is to be preached wherever an
opening is found for it. The Word of God is to be explained to those
who know not the truth. This is the work of God’s ministers. They are
not to teach men to look to them, or to seek to control the consciences