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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
of them had we not published them to the world. This is what our
opponents want to have done; they want to be brought to notice and to
have us publish for them. This is especially true of some. This is their
main object in writing out their falsehoods and in misrepresenting the
truth and the characters of those who love and advocate the truth. They
will die out more speedily to be left unnoticed, to have their errors and
falsehoods treated with silent contempt. They do not want to be let
alone. Opposition is the element that they love. If it were not for this,
they would have but little influence.
The first-day Adventists as a class are the most difficult to reach.
They generally reject the truth, as did the Jews. We should, as far
as possible, go forward as though there were not such a people in
existence. They are the elements of confusion, and immoralities exist
among them to a fearful extent. It would be the greatest calamity
to have many of their number embrace the truth. They would have
to unlearn everything and learn anew, or they would cause us great
trouble. There are occasions where their glaring misrepresentations
will have to be met. When this is the case, it should be done promptly
and briefly, and we should then pass on to our work. The plan of
Christ’s teaching should be ours. He was plain and simple, striking
directly at the root of the matter, and the minds of all were met.
It is not the best policy to be so very explicit and say all upon a
point that can be said, when a few arguments will cover the ground and
be sufficient for all practical purposes to convince or silence opponents.
You may remove every prop today and close the mouths of objectors
so that they can say nothing, and tomorrow they will go over the same
ground again. Thus it will be, over and over, because they do not love
the light and will not come to the light, lest their darkness and error
should be removed from them. It is a better plan to keep a reserve
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of arguments than to pour out a depth of knowledge upon a subject
which would be taken for granted without labored argument. Christ’s
ministry lasted only three years, and a great work was done in that
short period. In these last days there is a great work to be done in a
short time. While many are getting ready to do something, souls will
perish for the light and knowledge.
If men who are engaged in presenting and defending the truth of the
Bible undertake to investigate and show the fallacy and inconsistency
of men who dishonestly turn the truth of God into a lie, Satan will stir