Testimonies Slighted
69
It will require courage and independence to rise above the religious
standard of the Christian world. They do not follow the Saviour’s
example of self-denial; they make no sacrifice; they are constantly
seeking to evade the cross which Christ declares to be the token of
discipleship.
What can I say to arouse our people? I tell you not a few ministers
who stand before the people to explain the Scriptures are defiled. Their
hearts are corrupt, their hands unclean. Yet many are crying, “Peace,
peace;” and the workers of iniquity are not alarmed. The Lord’s hand
is not shortened that He cannot save, nor His ear heavy that He cannot
[79]
hear; but it is our sins that have separated us from God. The church is
corrupt because of her members who defile their bodies and pollute
their souls.
If all of those who come together for meetings of edification and
prayer could be regarded as true worshipers, then might we hope,
though much would still remain to be done for us. But it is in vain
to deceive ourselves. Things are far from being what the appearance
would indicate. From a distant view much may appear beautiful which,
upon close examination, will be found full of deformities. The pre-
vailing spirit of our time is that of infidelity and apostasy—a spirit
of pretended illumination because of a knowledge of the truth, but in
reality of the blindest presumption. There is a spirit of opposition to
the plain word of God and to the testimony of His Spirit. There is a
spirit of idolatrous exaltation of mere human reason above the revealed
wisdom of God.
There are men among us in responsible positions who hold that
the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be
trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy Spirit.
Such a faith as that of Paul, Peter, or John is considered old-fashioned
and insufferable at the present day. It is pronounced absurd, mystical,
and unworthy of an intelligent mind.
God has shown me that these men are Hazaels to prove a scourge
to our people. They are wise above what is written. This unbelief
of the very truths of God’s word because human judgment cannot
comprehend the mysteries of His work is found in every district, in all
ranks of society. It is taught in most of our schools and comes into the
lessons of the nurseries. Thousands who profess to be Christians give