Investigation of New Light
29
that you sit down with him and make an investigation of that point in
the Scriptures; should you rise up, filled with prejudice, and condemn
his ideas, while refusing to give him a candid hearing?
The only right way would be to sit down as Christians and in-
vestigate the position presented, in the light of God’s word, which
will reveal truth and unmask error. To ridicule his ideas would not
weaken his position in the least if it were false, or strengthen your
position if it were true. If the pillars of our faith will not stand the test
of investigation, it is time that we knew it. There must be no spirit of
pharisaism cherished among us. When Christ came to His own, His
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own received Him not; and it is a matter of solemn interest to us that
we should not pursue a similar course in refusing light from heaven.
We must study the truth for ourselves. No living man should be
relied upon to think for us. No matter who it is, or in what position he
may be placed, we are not to look upon any man as a perfect criterion
for us. We are to counsel together, and to be subject to one another;
but at the same time we are to exercise the ability God has given us
to learn what is truth. Each one of us must look to God for divine
enlightenment. We must individually develop a character that will
stand the test in the day of God. We must not become set in our ideas,
and think that no one should interfere with our opinions.—
The Review
and Herald, June 18, 1889
.
Not Revealed to Just One or Two—God has not passed His peo-
ple by, and chosen one solitary man here and another there as the only
ones worthy to be entrusted with His truth. He does not give one man
new light contrary to the established faith of the body. In every reform
men have arisen making this claim. Paul warned the church in his day,
“Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw
away disciples after them.” The greatest harm to God’s people comes
through those who go out from among them speaking perverse things.
Through them the way of truth is evil spoken of.
Let none be self confident, as though God had given them special
light above their brethren. Christ is represented as dwelling in His
people; and believers, as “built upon the foundation of the apostles and
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prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom
all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy temple in
the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of
God through the Spirit.” “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,” says