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wisdom. Some congratulate them on their advance, and encourage
them to take degree after degree, even though they are less qualified
to do the work of God after Christ’s manner of instruction than they
were before they entered the school at Battle Creek.
The question was asked those assembled: “Do you believe the
truth? do you believe the third angel’s message? If you do believe,
then act your faith, and do not encourage men to continue in Battle
Creek when they should be away from that place doing their Master’s
business.” The Lord is not glorified in this procrastination. Men go to
Battle Creek, and receive a far higher idea of their capabilities than they
should. They are encouraged to take a long, protracted course of study;
but God’s way is not in it. It does not have a heavenly endorsement.
Precious probationary time will not permit of long protracted years
of drill. God calls: hear His voice as He says, “Go work today in My
vineyard.” Now, just now, is the time to work. Do you believe that the
Lord is coming, and that the last great crisis is about to break upon the
world?
There will soon be a sudden change in God’s dealings. The world
in its perversity is being visited by casualties,—by floods, storms, fires,
earthquakes, famines, wars, and bloodshed. The Lord is slow to anger,
and great in power; yet He will not at all acquit the wicked. “The Lord
hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are
the dust of His feet.” O that men might understand the patience and
longsuffering of God! He is putting under restraint His own attributes.
His omnipotent power is under the control of Omnipotence. O that men
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would understand that God refuses to be wearied out with the world’s
perversity, and still holds out the hope of forgiveness even to the most
undeserving! But His forbearance will not always continue. Who is
prepared for the sudden change that will take place in God’s dealing
with sinful men? Who will be prepared to escape the punishment that
will certainly fall upon transgressors?
We have not a temporal millennium in which to do the work of
warning the world. There is need of transformation of soul. The
most effective intelligence that can be obtained will be obtained in
the school of Christ. Understand that I say nothing in these words to
depreciate education, but to warn those who are in danger of carrying
that which is lawful to unlawful extremes, and of making altogether
too much of human education. Rather insist upon the development of