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Words of Caution
Christ said to His disciples: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in
the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless
as doves.”
Matthew 10:16
. Satan’s attacks against the advocates
of the truth will wax more bitter and determined to the very close
of time. As in Christ’s day the chief priests and rulers stirred up
the people against Him, so today the religious leaders will excite
bitterness and prejudice against the truth for this time. The people
will be led to acts of violence and opposition which they would
never have thought of had they not been imbued with the animosity
of professed Christians against the truth.
What course shall the advocates of truth pursue? They have the
unchangeable, eternal word of God, and they should reveal the fact
that they have the truth as it is in Jesus. Their words must not be
rugged and sharp. In their presentation of truth they must manifest
the love and meekness and gentleness of Christ. Let the truth do the
cutting; the word of God is as a sharp, two-edged sword and will
cut its way to the heart. Those who know that they have the truth
should not, by the use of harsh and severe expressions, give Satan
one chance to misinterpret their spirit.
As a people we must stand as did the world’s Redeemer. When in
controversy with Satan in regard to the body of Moses, Christ durst
not bring against him a railing accusation. He had every provocation
to do this, and Satan was disappointed because he could not arouse
in Christ a spirit of retaliation. Satan was ready to misinterpret
everything that was done by Jesus; and the Saviour would give him
no occasion, not the semblance of an excuse. He would not turn from
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His straightforward course of truth in order to follow the wanderings
and twistings and turnings and prevarications of Satan.
We read in the prophecy of Zechariah that when Satan with all
his synagogue stood up to resist the prayers of Joshua the high priest,
and to resist Christ, who was about to show decided favor to Joshua:
“The Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even
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