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Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
His methods are practiced even among Seventh-day Adventists, who
claim to have advanced truth.
If men resist the warnings the Lord sends them, they become
even leaders in evil practice; such men assume to exercise the prerog-
atives of God—they presume to do that which God Himself will not
do in seeking to control the minds of men. They introduce their own
methods and plans, and through their misconceptions of God they
weaken the faith of others in the truth, and bring in false principles
that will work like leaven to taint and corrupt our institutions and
churches. Anything that lowers man’s conception of righteousness
and equity and impartial judgment, any device or precept that brings
God’s human agents under the control of human minds, impairs their
faith in God; it separates the soul from God; for it leads away from
the path of strict integrity and righteousness.
God will not vindicate any device whereby man shall in the
slightest degree rule or oppress his fellowmen. The only hope for
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fallen man is to look to Jesus and receive Him as the only Saviour.
As soon as man begins to make an iron rule for other men, as soon
as he begins to harness up and drive men according to his own mind,
he dishonors God and imperils his own soul and the souls of his
brethren. Sinful man can find hope and righteousness only in God,
and no human being is righteous any longer than he has faith in God
and maintains a vital connection with Him. A flower of the field
must have its root in the soil; it must have air, dew, showers, and
sunshine. It will flourish only as it receives these advantages, and
all are from God. So with men. We receive from God that which
ministers to the life of the soul. We are warned not to trust in man,
nor to make flesh our arm. A curse is pronounced upon all who do
this.
Jesus and Nicodemus
Nicodemus sought an interview with Jesus at night, saying,
“Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no
man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with
him.” All this was true, as far as it went; but what said Jesus? He
“answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Here