Basic HTML Version
26
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
of dissolute men, be advocated as worthy of the student’s attention,
because they are the productions of men whom the world admires
as great thinkers? Shall men professing to believe in God gather
from these unsanctified authors their expressions and sentiments,
and treasure them up as precious jewels to be stored away among
the riches of the mind? God forbid!
The Lord bestowed upon these men whom the world admires,
priceless intellectual gifts; He endowed them with master minds;
but they did not use their powers to the glory of God. They sepa-
rated themselves from Him, as did Satan; but while they separated
themselves from Him, they still retained many of the precious gems
of thought which He had given them. These they have placed in a
framework of error, to give luster to their own human sentiments, to
make attractive the utterances inspired by the prince of evil.
It is true that in the writings of pagans and infidels there are
found thoughts of an elevated character, which are attractive to the
[27]
mind. But there is a reason for this. Was not Satan the light bearer,
the sharer of God’s glory in heaven, and next to Jesus in power and
majesty? In the words of Inspiration he is described as one who
sealeth up the sum, “full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.” The
prophet declares, “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and
I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou
hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou
wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till
iniquity was found in thee.”
Ezekiel 28:12, 14, 15
....
The greatness and power with which the Creator endowed Lu-
cifer, he has perverted; yet when it suits his purpose, he can impart
to men sentiments that are enchanting. Satan can inspire his agents
with thoughts that appear elevating and noble. Did he not come to
Christ with quotations of Scripture when he designed to overthrow
Him with specious temptations? It is thus that he comes to men,
disguising his temptations under an appearance of goodness and
making them believe him to be the friend rather than the enemy of
humanity. In this way he has deceived and seduced the race, beguil-
ing them with subtle temptations, bewildering them with specious
deceptions.