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Testimonies for the Church Volume 9
place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive
the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Isaiah 57:15
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Meeting Opposition
Often, as you seek to present the truth, opposition will be
aroused; but if you seek to meet the opposition with argument you
will only multiply it, and that you cannot afford to do. Hold to the
affirmative. Angels of God are watching you, and they understand
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how to impress those whose opposition you refuse to meet with
argument. Dwell not on the negative points of questions that arise,
but gather to your minds affirmative truths, and fasten them there by
much study and earnest prayer and heart consecration. Keep your
lamps trimmed and burning, and let bright rays shine forth, that men,
beholding your good works, may be led to glorify your Father which
is in heaven.
If Christ had not held to the affirmative in the wilderness of temp-
tation, He would have lost all that He desired to gain. Christ’s way is
the best way to meet our opponents. We strengthen their arguments
when we repeat what they say. Keep always to the affirmative. It
may be that the very man who is opposing you will carry your words
home and be converted to the sensible truth that has reached his
understanding.
I have often said to our brethren: “Your opponents will make
statements about your work that are false. Do not repeat their state-
ments; but hold to your assertions of the living truth, and angels of
God will open the way before you. We have a great work to carry
forward, and we must carry it in a sensible way. Let us never get
excited or allow evil feelings to arise. Christ did not do this, and He
is our example in all things. For the work given us to do we need
much more of heavenly, sanctified, humble wisdom, and much less
of self. We need to lay hold firmly on divine power.”
Those who have departed from the faith will come to our con-
gregations to divert our attention from the work that God would
have done. You cannot afford to turn your ears from the truth to
fables. Do not stop to try to convert the one who is speaking words
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of reproach against your work; but let it be seen that you are inspired