118
The Great Controversy 1888
all, it is thyself who art wrong, and who art involving in thy error so
many souls, who will then be eternally damned?” “Twas so I fought
with myself and with Satan, till Christ, by his infallible Word, fortified
my heart against these doubts.”
The pope had threatened Luther with excommunication if he did
not recant, and the threat was now fulfilled. A new bull appeared,
declaring the reformer’s final separation from the Romish Church,
denouncing him as accursed of Heaven, and including in the same
condemnation all who should receive his doctrines. The great contest
had been fully entered upon.
Opposition is the lot of all whom God employs to present truths
specially applicable to their time. There was a present truth in the
days of Luther,—a truth at that time of special importance; there is a
present truth for the church today. He who does all things according
to the counsel of his will, has been pleased to place men under various
circumstances, and to enjoin upon them duties peculiar to the times
in which they live, and the conditions under which they are placed. If
they would prize the light given them, broader views of truth would
[144]
be opened before them. But truth is no more desired by the majority
today than it was by the papists who opposed Luther. There is the
same disposition to accept the theories and traditions of men instead
of the Word of God as in former ages. Those who present the truth
for this time should not expect to be received with greater favor than
were earlier reformers. The great controversy between truth and error,
between Christ and Satan, is to increase in intensity to the close of this
world’s history.
Said Jesus to his disciples: “If ye were of the world, the world
would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember
the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord.
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have
kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” [
John 15:19, 20
.] And
on the other hand our Lord declared plainly: “Woe unto you, when
all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false
prophets. [
Luke 6:26
.] The spirit of the world is no more in harmony
with the Spirit of Christ today than in earlier times; and those who
preach the Word of God in its purity will be received with no greater
favor now than then. The forms of opposition to the truth may change,