Words of Caution
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Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord
that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this a brand plucked out
of the fire?”
Zechariah 3:2
.
The course of Christ in dealing even with the adversary of souls,
should be an example to us in all our intercourse with others, never to
bring a railing accusation against any; much less should we employ
harshness or severity toward those who may be as anxious to know the
right way as we are ourselves.
Those who have been educated in the truth by precept and example,
should make great allowance for others who have had no knowledge
of the Scriptures except through the interpretations given by ministers
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and church members, and who have received traditions and fables as
Bible truth. They are surprised by the presentation of truth; it is as a
new revelation to them, and they cannot bear to have all the truth, in
its most striking character, presented to them at the outset. All is new
and strange, and wholly unlike that which they have heard from their
ministers; and they are inclined to believe what the ministers have told
them,—that Seventh-day Adventists are infidels, and do not believe
the Bible. Let the truth be presented as it is in Jesus, line upon line,
precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little.
Unkind Thrusts and Personal Allusions—Let not those who
write for our papers make unkind thrusts and allusions that will cer-
tainly do harm, and that will hedge up the way and hinder us from
doing the work that we should do in order to reach all classes, the
Catholics included. It is our work to speak the truth in love, and not to
mix in with the truth the unsanctified elements of the natural heart, and
speak things that savor of the same spirit possessed by our enemies.
All sharp thrusts will come back upon us in double measure when the
power is in the hands of those who can exercise it for our injury. Over
and over the message has been given to me that we are not to say one
word, not to publish one sentence, especially by way of personalities,
unless positively essential in vindicating the truth, that will stir up our
enemies against us, and arouse their passions to a white heat. Our
work will soon be closed up, and soon the time of trouble, such as
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never was, will come upon us, of which we have but little idea.
Disqualified by Careless Statements—The Lord wants His work-
ers to represent Him, the great Missionary Worker. The manifestation
of rashness always does harm. The proprieties essential for Christian