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Chapter 13—Mental and Spiritual Culture
For the mind and the soul, as well as for the body, it is God’s
law that strength is acquired by effort. In harmony with this law,
God has provided in His Word the means for mental and spiritual
development.
The Bible contains all the principles that human beings need to
understand in order to be fitted both for this life and for the life to
come. And these principles may be understood by all. No one with
a spirit to appreciate its teaching can read a single passage from the
Bible without gaining some helpful thought. But the most valuable
teaching of the Bible is not obtained by occasional or disconnected
study. Its great system of truth cannot be discerned by the hasty or
careless reader. Many of its treasures lie far beneath the surface, and
can be obtained only by diligent research and continuous effort.
The truths that go to make up the great whole must be searched
out and gathered up, “here a little, there a little.”
Isaiah 28:10
. When
thus searched out and brought together, they will be found to be
perfectly fitted to one another. Each Gospel is a supplement to
the others, every prophecy an explanation of another, every truth a
development of some other truth. Every principle in the Word of
God has its place, every fact its bearing. And the complete structure,
in design and execution, bears testimony to its Author. Only the
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mind of the Infinite could conceive or fashion such a structure.
In searching out the various parts and studying their relationship,
the highest faculties of the human mind are called into intense ac-
tivity. No one can engage in such study without developing mental
power.
Value of Bible Study
The mental value of Bible study consists not only in searching
out truth and bringing it together, it consists also in the effort required
to grasp the themes presented. The mind that is occupied only with
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