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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
work of Satan, prompted by the same spirit of rebellion which was
first manifested in Heaven.
Satan is constantly seeking to deceive men, and lead them to
call sin righteousness, and righteousness sin. How successful has
been his work! How often are censure and reproach cast upon God’s
faithful servants because they will stand fearlessly in defense of the
truth! Men who are but agents of Satan are praised and flattered, and
even looked upon as martyrs, while those who should be respected
and sustained for their fidelity to God, are left to stand alone, under
suspicion and distrust.
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Counterfeit holiness, spurious sanctification, is still doing its
work of deception. Under various forms it exhibits the same spirit
as in the days of Luther, diverting minds from the Scriptures, and
leading men to follow their own feelings and impressions rather than
to yield obedience to the law of God. This is one of Satan’s most
successful devices to cast reproach upon purity and truth.
Fearlessly did Luther defend the gospel from the attacks which
came from every quarter. The word of God proved itself a weapon
mighty in every conflict. With that word he warred against the
usurped authority of the pope, and the rationalistic philosophy of the
schoolmen, while he stood firm as a rock against the fanaticism that
sought to ally itself with the Reformation.
Each of these opposing elements was in its own way setting aside
the Holy Scriptures, and exalting human wisdom as the source of re-
ligious truth and knowledge. Rationalism idolizes reason, and makes
this the criterion for religion. Romanism, claiming for her sovereign
pontiff an inspiration descended in unbroken line from the apostles,
and unchangeable through all time, gives ample opportunity for ev-
ery species of extravagance and corruption to be concealed under
the sanctity of the apostolic commission. The inspiration claimed
by Munzer and his associates proceeded from no higher source than
the vagaries of the imagination, and its influence was subversive of
all authority, human or divine. True Christianity receives the word
of God as the great treasure-house of inspired truth, and the test of
all inspiration.
Upon his return from the Wartburg, Luther completed his trans-
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lation of the New Testament, and the gospel was soon after given
to the people of Germany in their own language. This translation