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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
they may form characters for heaven, who need to become students
themselves. Some who enter the ministry do not feel the burden
of the work upon them. They have received incorrect ideas of the
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qualifications of a minister. They have thought that it required but
little close study in the sciences or in the word of God to make a
minister. Some who are teaching present truth are not acquainted
with their Bibles. They are so deficient in Bible knowledge that
it is difficult for them to quote a text of Scripture correctly from
memory. By blundering along in the awkward manner they do, they
sin against God. They mangle the scripture, and make the Bible say
things that are not written therein.
Some who have all their lives been led by feeling have thought
that an education or a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures was of
no consequence if they only had the Spirit. But God never sends His
Spirit to sanction ignorance. Those who have not knowledge, and
who are so situated that it is impossible for them to obtain it, the
Lord may, and does, pity and bless, and sometimes condescends to
make His strength perfect in their weakness. But He makes it the
duty of such to study His word. A lack of knowledge in the sciences
is no excuse for a neglect of Bible study; for the words of inspiration
are so plain that the unlearned may understand them.
Of all men upon the face of the earth, those who are handling
solemn truths for these perilous times should understand their Bibles
and become acquainted with the evidences of our faith. Unless
they possess a knowledge of the word of life they have no right to
undertake to instruct others in the way to life. Ministers should give
all diligence to add to their “faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and
to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness charity.” Some of our ministers graduate when
they have scarcely learned the first principles of the doctrine of
Christ. Those who are ambassadors for Christ, who stand in His
stead, beseeching souls to be reconciled to God, should be qualified
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to present our faith intelligently and be able to give the reasons
of their hope with meekness and fear. Said Christ: “Search the
Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of Me.”