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meekness, and learn to esteem others better than himself. If he will
work in fidelity and in harmony with God’s plan he will hear the sweet
words, “Well done,” from the lips of the Master. But if he rejects the
labors of God’s servants, if he chooses his own way and leans to his
own understanding, he will surely make shipwreck of faith. God has
not passed His people by and chosen one solitary man here and another
there as the only ones worthy to be entrusted with His truth. He does
not give one man new light contrary to the established faith of the
body. In every reform men have arisen making this claim. Paul warned
the church in his day: “Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” The greatest harm
to God’s people comes through those who go out from among them
speaking perverse things. Through them the way of truth is evil spoken
of.
Let none be self-confident, as though God had given them special
light above their brethren. Christ is represented as dwelling in His
people. Believers are represented as “built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Corner-
stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an
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holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for
an habitation of God through the Spirit.” “I therefore, the prisoner of
the Lord,” says Paul, “beseech you that ye walk worthy of the voca-
tion wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with
long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one
Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one
faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in you all.”
That which Brother D calls light is apparently harmless; it does
not look as though anyone could be injured by it. But, brethren, it
is Satan’s device, his entering wedge. This has been tried again and
again. One accepts some new and original idea which does not seem to
conflict with the truth. He talks of it and dwells upon it until it seems to
him to be clothed with beauty and importance, for Satan has power to
give this false appearance. At last it becomes the all-absorbing theme,
the one great point around which everything centers; and the truth is
uprooted from the heart.