312
      
      
         Evangelism
      
      
        scriptures that have been given to adorn the truth, and will use them as
      
      
        a robe of righteousness to cover false and dangerous theories. And even
      
      
        some of those who, in times past, the Lord has honored, will depart so
      
      
        far from the truth as to advocate misleading theories regarding many
      
      
        phases of truth, including the sanctuary question.—
      
      
        Manuscript 11,
      
      
        1906
      
      
        .
      
      
        The Church to Be Sifted—It is always difficult to hold fast the
      
      
        beginning of our confidence firm unto the end, and the difficulty in-
      
      
        creases when there are hidden influences constantly at work to bring
      
      
        in another spirit, a counterworking element, on Satan’s side of the
      
      
        question.
      
      
        In the absence of the persecution there have drifted into our ranks
      
      
        men who appear sound and their Christianity unquestionable, but who,
      
      
        if persecution should arise, would go out from us. In the crisis they
      
      
        would see force in specious reasons that have had an influence on their
      
      
         [361]
      
      
        minds. Satan has prepared various snares to meet varied minds.
      
      
        When the law of God is made void, the church will be sifted by
      
      
        fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give
      
      
        heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Instead of being
      
      
        strengthened when brought into strait places, many prove that they
      
      
        are not living branches of the true Vine, they bear no fruit, and the
      
      
        husbandman taketh them away.—
      
      
        Letter 3, 1890
      
      
        .
      
      
        To Keep a Firm Hold on Bible Truth—The Christian is to be
      
      
        “rooted and grounded” in the truth, that he may stand firm against
      
      
        the temptations of the enemy. He must have a continual renewal of
      
      
        strength, and he must hold firmly to Bible truth. Fables of every kind
      
      
        will be brought in to seduce the believer from his allegiance to God, but
      
      
        he is to look up, believe in God, and stand firmly rooted and grounded
      
      
        in the truth.
      
      
        Keep a firm hold upon the Lord Jesus, and never let go. Have firm
      
      
        convictions as to what you believe. Let the truths of God’s Word lead
      
      
        you to devote heart, mind, soul, and strength to the doing of His will.
      
      
        Lay hold resolutely upon a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” Let your only
      
      
        argument be, “It is written.” Thus we are to contend for the faith once
      
      
        delivered to the saints. That faith has not lost any of its sacred, holy
      
      
        character, however objectionable its opposers may think it to be.
      
      
        Those who follow their own mind and walk in their own way will
      
      
        form crooked characters. Vain doctrines and subtle sentiments will