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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
those in authority to carry out our purposes. Then the Sabbath
which I have set up shall be enforced by laws the most severe and
exacting. Those who disregard them shall be driven out from the
cities and villages, and made to suffer hunger and privation. When
once we have the power, we will show that we can do with those who
will not swerve from their allegiance to God. We led the Romish
Church to inflict imprisonment, torture, and death upon those who
refused to yield to her decrees, and now that we are bringing the
Protestant churches and the world into harmony with this right arm
of our strength, we will finally have a law to exterminate all who
will not submit to our authority. When death shall be made the
penalty of violating our Sabbath, then many who are now ranked
with commandment-keepers will come over to our side.
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“But before proceeding to these extreme measures, we must exert
all our wisdom and subtlety to deceive and ensnare those who honor
the true Sabbath. We can separate many from Christ by worldliness,
lust, and pride. They may think themselves safe because they believe
the truth, but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, which
will confuse judgment and destroy discrimination, will cause their
fall.
“Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with the
cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive
light, that they may lay up their treasure here, and fix their affections
upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who
labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep
the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the
more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects.
Make them care more for money than for the upbuilding of Christ’s
kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not
fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person
will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s
people.
“Through those that have a form of godliness but know not the
power, we can gain many who would otherwise do us great harm.
Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will be our most effective
helpers. Those of this class who are apt and intelligent will serve
as decoys to draw others into our snares. Many will not fear their
influence, because they profess the same faith. We will thus lead