False Tests and Man-Made Standards
191
minds. You may be expert, as were the Jewish teachers, in getting
up new theories; but Christ said of them, “In vain they do worship
Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Matthew 15:9
.
They presented to the people traditions, suppositions, and fables of
all kinds. The forms and ceremonies they enjoined made it simply
impossible for the people to know whether they were keeping the Word
of God or following the traditions of men.
Satan is well pleased when he can thus confuse the mind. Let
not ministers preach their own suppositions. Let them search the
Scriptures earnestly, with a solemn realization that if they teach for
doctrine the things that are not contained in God’s Word, they will be
as those represented in the last chapter of Revelation.
Let those who are tempted to indulge in fanciful, imaginary doc-
trines sink the shaft deep into the mines of heavenly truth, and secure
the riches which mean life eternal to the receiver. Precious treasure
will be secured by those who study God’s Word with earnestness, for
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heavenly angels will direct the search.—
Undated Manuscript 111
.
When Men Weave in Human Threads—When men begin to
weave in the human threads to compose the pattern of the web, the
Lord is in no hurry. He waits until men shall lay down their own human
inventions and will accept the Lord’s way and the Lord’s will.—
Letter
181, 1901
.
Making a World of an Atom—O how many might do a noble
work in self-denial and self-sacrifice, who are absorbed in the little
things of life! They are blind and cannot see afar off. They make
a world of an atom and an atom of a world. They have become
shallow streams, because they do not impart to others the water of
life.—
Manuscript 173, 1898
.
Message Impaired by One-Idea Men—There was precious tal-
ent in the church at-----, but God could not use these brethren until
they were converted. There were some who had capabilities to help
the church, but who needed first to set their own hearts in order. Some
had been bringing in false tests, and had made their own ideas and
notions a criterion, magnifying matters of little importance into tests
of Christian fellowship, and binding heavy burdens upon others. Thus
a spirit of criticism, fault-finding, and dissension had come in, which
had been a great injury to the church. And the impression was given
to unbelievers that Sabbathkeeping Adventists were a set of fanatics