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Christian Education
The jewels of truth lie scattered over the field of revelation; but
they have been buried beneath human traditions, beneath the sayings
and commandments of men, and the wisdom from heaven has been
practically ignored; for Satan has succeeded in making the world be-
lieve that the words and achievements of men are of great consequence.
The Lord God, the Creator of the worlds, at infinite cost has given
the gospel to the world. Through this divine agent, glad, refreshing
springs of heavenly comfort and abiding consolation have been opened
for those who will come to the fountain of life. There are veins of
truth yet to be discovered; but spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
Minds beclouded with evil cannot appreciate the value of the truth as
it is in Jesus. When iniquity is cherished, men do not feel the necessity
of making diligent effort, with prayer and reflection, to understand
what they must know or lose heaven. The have so long been under
the shadow of the enemy, that they view truth as men behold objects
through a smoked and imperfect glass; for all things are dark and per-
verted in their eyes. Their spiritual vision is feeble and untrustworthy;
for they look upon the shadow, and turn away from the light.
But those who profess to believe in Jesus, should ever press to
the light. They should daily pray for the light of the Holy Spirit to
shine upon the pages of the sacred book, that they may be enabled to
comprehend the things of the Spirit of God. We must have implicit
trust in God’s word, or we are lost. The words of men, however great
they may be, are not able to make us perfect, to thoroughly furnish
unto all good works. “God hath from the beginning chosen you to
salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth.”
[
2 Thessalonians 2:13
.] In this text the two agencies in the salvation
of man are revealed,—the divine influence, the strong, living faith of
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those who follow Christ. It is through the sanctification of the spirit
and the belief of the truth, that we become laborers together with God.
God waits for the co-operation of his church. He does not design to add
a new element of efficiency to his word; he has done his great work in
giving his inspiration to the world. The blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit,
the divine word, are ours. The object of all this provision of heaven
is before us,—the souls for whom Christ died,—and it depends upon
us to lay hold of the promises God has given, and become laborers
together with him; for divine and human agencies must co-operate in
this work.