Dangers and Duty of Ministers
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murmuring thought, and word, and feeling. Heaven feels insulted
at such an exhibition of weakness, and lack of devotion to the cause
of God. Some have given a willing ear to the tempter, talked out
their unbelief, and have wounded the cause. Satan has claims upon
them, for they have not recovered themselves from his snare. They
have behaved themselves like children who were wholly unacquainted
with the wiles of Satan. They have had sufficient experience, and
should have understood his workings. He has suggested doubts to
their minds, and instead of repelling them at once, they have reasoned
and parleyed with the arch-deceiver, and listened to his reasonings as
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though charmed by the old serpent.
A few texts which were not perfectly explainable to the satisfaction
of their own minds, have been sufficient to shake the whole structure
of truth, and to obscure the plainest facts of the word of God. These
men are erring mortals. They have not perfect wisdom and knowledge
in all the Scriptures. Some passages are placed beyond the reach of
human minds, until such a time as God chooses, in his own wisdom,
to open them. Satan has been leading some on a trail which leads
to certain infidelity. They have suffered their unbelief to becloud the
harmonious, glorious chain of truth, and have acted as though it was
their business to solve every difficult passage of Scripture, or our faith
was faulty.
I saw that those who have an evil heart of unbelief, will doubt,
and will think it noble and a virtue to doubt the word of God. Those
who think it a virtue to quibble can have plenty of room to disbelieve
the inspiration and truths of God’s word. God does not compel any
to believe. They can choose to rely upon the evidences he has been
pleased to give, or doubt, and cavil, and perish.
I was shown that those who are troubled with infidelity and doubts
should not go out to labor for others. That which is in the mind must
flow out, and they realize not the effect of a hint, or the smallest doubt
expressed. Satan makes it a barbed arrow. It acts like a slow poison,
which, before the victim is made sensible of his danger, has affected
the whole system, and undermined a good constitution, and finally
ends in death. It is just so with the poison of unbelief, and doubts upon
Scripture facts. One who has influence, hints, or throws a doubt into
minds suggesting that which Satan has suggested to them, that one
scripture contradicts another, and in a very wise manner, as though