Chapter 47—The Publishing Work
There are and ever will be many perplexities connected with the
publishing office at Battle Creek. The institutions established there are
God’s instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. For
this reason Satan is on the ground, exercising his ingenuity to embar-
rass and hinder. He comes with his temptations to men and women
connected with these institutions, whether in responsible positions or
doing the humblest work, and if possible he so ensnares them with his
devices that they lose their connection with God, become confused
in judgment, and are unable to discern between right and wrong. He
knows that the time will surely come when the spirit that has controlled
the life will be made manifest, and he is glad to have the lives of these
persons testify against them that they are not co-workers with Christ.
Many who have grown to the years and stature of manhood are
deficient in the elements that constitute a noble, manly character. God
does not regard them as men. They are not reliable. Some of these
are connected with our institutions. They have influence; but it is of
a pernicious character, for it is seldom on the side of right. While
they profess godliness, their example constantly tends to encourage
unrighteousness. Skepticism is interwoven with their thoughts and
expressed in their words, and their powers are used for the perversion of
righteousness, truth, and justice. Their minds are controlled by Satan,
and he works through them to demoralize and bring in confusion. The
more pleasing and attractive their manners, the more richly they are
endowed with brilliant talents, the more effectual agents are they in the
[408]
hands of the enemy of all righteousness to demoralize all who come
under their influence. It will be found a hard and thankless task to
keep these from becoming a ruling power and carrying out their own
purposes in encouraging disorder and loose, lax principles.
The youth exposed to their influence are never safe unless those
under whose care they are placed exercise the greatest vigilance and
they themselves have right principles firmly established. But it is a sad
fact that in this age many of the young yield readily to the influence
366