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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
wickedness puts our weakness to the test, but your cruelty is of no
avail. It is but a stronger invitation to bring others to our persuasion.
The more we are mowed down, the more we spring up again. The
blood of the Christians is seed.”
Thousands were imprisoned and slain; but others sprung up
to fill their places. And those who were martyred for their faith
were secured to Christ, and accounted of him as conquerors. They
had fought the good fight, and they were to receive the crown of
glory when Christ should come. The sufferings which they endured
brought Christians nearer to one another and to their Redeemer.
Their living example and dying testimony were a constant witness
for the truth; and, where least expected, the subjects of Satan were
leaving his service, and enlisting under the banner of Christ.
Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against
the government of God, by planting his banner in the Christian
church. If the followers of Christ could be deceived, and led to
displease God, then their strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail,
and they would fall an easy prey.
The great adversary now endeavored to gain by artifice what he
had failed to secure by force. Persecution ceased, and in its stead
were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity
and worldly honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Chris-
tian faith, while they rejected other essential truths. They professed
to accept Jesus as the Son of God, and to believe in his death and
resurrection; but they had no conviction of sin, and felt no need of
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repentance or of a change of heart. With some concessions on their
part, they proposed that Christians should make concessions, that all
might unite on the platform of belief in Christ.
Now was the church in fearful peril. Prison, torture, fire, and
sword were blessings in comparison with this. Some of the Chris-
tians stood firm, declaring that they could make no compromise.
Others reasoned that if they should yield or modify some features of
their faith, and unite with those who had accepted a part of Chris-
tianity, it might be the means of their full conversion. That was a
time of deep anguish to the faithful followers of Christ. Under a
cloak of pretended Christianity, Satan was insinuating himself into
the church, to corrupt their faith, and turn their minds from the word
of truth.