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Special Testimonies On Education
us a pattern. Our character building is to be “after the pattern showed
to thee in the mount.” The law is the great standard of righteousness.
It represents the character of God, and is the test of our loyalty to his
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government. And it is revealed to us, in all its beauty and excellence,
in the life of Christ. The law is the detector of sin. We have inspired
testimony on this point: “For I was alive without the law once: but
when the commandment came [home to the conscience], sin revived,
and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I
found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment,
deceived me, and by it slew me.”
Romans 7:9-11
. This is the work
that it will do for every soul that is living in sin. The law points out
sin, and condemns it, and sends the sinner to Christ for pardon and
cleansing. “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and
good.”
All classes, however fallen, however sin-stained, have the law of
God as their guide, and his word as their instructor. They may be
sanctified through the truth, and received as sons and daughters of
the Most High. But “the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
Romans 8:7
.
The multitudes do not love righteousness, and they are building on
the sand. Many who profess Christ do not love the law of God. If
they dared, they would speak out their enmity against it in no mild
terms. They have a surface religion, and that is all they desire. Some
are deceptive and untrustworthy in deal, and will break pledges and
contracts. Covetousness, intemperance, and impurity abound, and
money is squandered for tobacco and other similar indulgences.
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There are many who attend church, and hear the truth spoken;
they see the claims of God; but they have some pet indulgence which
they will not give up,—something which prevents them from judging
candidly and wisely between the things of time and those of eternity.
It makes little difference what this is, so long as it separates the soul
from God.
But God is not to be trifled with. We can make no selfish bargain
with him; we can cling to no sin if we would retain his favor. Those
who are building on the Rock Christ Jesus, will follow none of the
pernicious practises of the worldly or of world-loving church-members,
but will search the Bible for themselves. God has given men reasoning
powers for this purpose, that they may weigh evidence, and decide