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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
life and character. It blinds the understanding and corrupts the noblest
powers. It is this that brings confusion into our lives. Our people
need to understand the oracles of God; they need to have a systematic
knowledge of the principles of revealed truth, which will fit them for
what is coming upon the earth and prevent them from being carried
about by every wind of doctrine.
Great changes are soon to take place in the world, and everyone
will need an experimental knowledge of the things of God. It is the
work of Satan to dishearten the people of God and to unsettle their
faith. He tries in every way to insinuate doubts and questionings in
regard to the position, the faith, the plans, of the men upon whom God
has laid the burden of a special work and who are zealously doing that
work. Although he may be baffled again and again, yet he renews his
attacks, working through those who profess to be humble and God-
fearing, and who are apparently interested in, or believers of, present
truth. The advocates of truth expect fierce and cruel opposition from
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their open enemies, but this is far less dangerous than the secret doubts
expressed by those who feel at liberty to question and find fault with
what God’s servants are doing. These may appear to be humble men;
but they are self-deceived, and they deceive others. In their hearts are
envy and evil surmisings. They unsettle the faith of the people in those
in whom they should have confidence, those whom God has chosen to
do His work; and when they are reproved for their course they take it
as personal abuse. While professing to be doing God’s work they are
in reality aiding the enemy.
Brethren, never allow anyone’s ideas to unsettle your faith in regard
to the order and harmony which should exist in the church. Many of
you do not see all things clearly. The directions in regard to order
in the tabernacle service were recorded that lessons might be drawn
from it by all who should live upon the earth. Men were selected to do
various parts of the work of setting up and taking down the tabernacle,
and if one strayed in carelessly and put his hands to the work assigned
to another, he was to be put to death. We serve the same God today.
But the death penalty has been abolished; had it not been, there would
not now be so much careless, disorderly work in His cause. The God
of heaven is a God of order, and He requires all His followers to have
rules and regulations, and to preserve order. All should have a perfect
understanding of God’s work.