Our Only Safeguard
55
discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the
majority—not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for
or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine
or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its
support.
Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man in the
place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors,
to professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the
Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then, by controlling the
minds of these leaders, he can influence the multitudes according to
his will....
The Search for Salvation
God has given us His word that we may become acquainted with
its teachings and know for ourselves what He requires of us. When
the lawyer came to Jesus with the inquiry, “What shall I do to in-
herit eternal life?” the Saviour referred him to the Scriptures, saying:
“What is written in the law? how readest thou?” Ignorance will not
excuse young or old, nor release them from the punishment due for the
transgression of God’s law; because there is in their hands a faithful
presentation of that law and of its principles and claims. It is not
enough to have good intentions; it is not enough to do what a man
thinks is right or what the minister tells him is right. His soul’s sal-
vation is at stake, and he should search the Scriptures for himself.
However strong may be his convictions, however confident he may be
that the minister knows what is truth, this is not his foundation. He
has a chart pointing out every waymark on the heavenward journey,
and he ought not to guess at anything.
It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn
from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and
encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study
the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing scripture
with scripture. With divine help we are to form our opinions for
ourselves as we are to answer for ourselves before God.
The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved
in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great
wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual