the great controversy-第135节

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many　who　have　never　had　an　opportunity　to　hear　the　special　truths　for　this
time。　The　obligation　of　the　fourth　commandment　has　never　been　set　before
them　in　its　true　light。　He　who　reads　every　heart　and　tries　every　motive　will
leave　none　who　desire　a　knowledge　of　the　truth；　to　be　deceived　as　to　the
issues　of　the　controversy。　The　decree　is　not　to　be　urged　upon　the　people
blindly。　Everyone　is　to　have　sufficient　light　to　make　his　decision
intelligently。

The　Sabbath　will　be　the　great　test　of　loyalty；　for　it　is　the　point　of　truth
especially　controverted。　When　the　final　test　shall　be　brought　to　bear　upon
men；　then　the　line　of　distinction　will　be　drawn　between　those　who　serve　God
and　those　who　serve　Him　not。　While　the　observance　of　the　false　sabbath　in
compliance　with　the　law　of　the　state；　contrary　to　the　fourth　commandment；
will　be　an　avowal　of　allegiance　to　a　power　that　is　in　opposition　to　God；　the
keeping　of　the　true　Sabbath；　in　obedience　to　God's　law；　is　an　evidence　of
loyalty　to　the　Creator。　While　one　class；　by　accepting　the　sign　of　submission
to　earthly　powers；　receive　the　mark　of　the　beast；　the　other　choosing　the
token　of　allegiance　to　divine　authority；　receive　the　seal　of　God。

Heretofore　those　who　presented　the　truths　of　the　third　angel's　message　have
often　been　regarded　as　mere　alarmists。　Their　predictions　that　religious
intolerance　would　gain　control　in　the　United　States；　that　church　and　state
would　unite　to　persecute　those　who　keep　the　commandments　of　God；　have　been
pronounced　groundless　and　absurd。　It　has　been　confidently　declared　that　this
land　could　never　become　other　than　what　it　has　beenthe　defender　of
religious　freedom。　But

606

as　the　question　of　enforcing　Sunday　observance　is　widely　agitated；　the　event
so　long　doubted　and　disbelieved　is　seen　to　be　approaching；　and　the　third
message　will　produce　an　effect　which　it　could　not　have　had　before。

In　every　generation　God　has　sent　His　servants　to　rebuke　sin；　both　in　the
world　and　in　the　church。　But　the　people　desire　smooth　things　spoken　to　them；
and　the　pure；　unvarnished　truth　is　not　acceptable。　Many　reformers；　in
entering　upon　their　work；　determined　to　exercise　great　prudence　in　attacking
the　sins　of　the　church　and　the　nation。　They　hoped；　by　the　example　of　a　pure
Christian　life；　to　lead　the　people　back　to　the　doctrines　of　the　Bible。　But
the　Spirit　of　God　came　upon　them　as　it　came　upon　Elijah；　moving　him　to
rebuke　the　sins　of　a　wicked　king　and　an　apostate　people；　they　could　not
refrain　from　preaching　the　plain　utterances　of　the　Bible　doctrines　which
they　had　been　reluctant　to　present。　They　were　impelled　to　zealously　declare
the　truth　and　the　danger　which　threatened　souls。　The　words　which　the　Lord
gave　them　they　uttered；　fearless　of　consequences；　and　the　people　were
compelled　to　hear　the　warning。

Thus　the　message　of　the　third　angel　will　be　proclaimed。　As　the　time　comes
for　it　to　be　given　with　greatest　power；　the　Lord　will　work　through　humble
instruments；　leading　the　minds　of　those　who　consecrate　themselves　to　His
service。　The　laborers　will　be　qualified　rather　by　the　unction　of　His　Spirit
than　by　the　training　of　literary　institutions。　Men　of　faith　and　prayer　will
be　constrained　to　go　forth　with　holy　zeal；　declaring　the　words　which　God
gives　them。　The　sins　of　Babylon　will　be　laid　open。　The　fearful　results　of
enforcing　the　observances　of　the　church　by　civil　authority；　the　inroads　of
spiritualism；　the　stealthy　but　rapid　progress　of　the　papal　powerall　will
be　unmasked。　By　these　solemn　warnings　the　people　will　be　stirred。　Thousands
upon　thousands　will　listen　who　have　never　heard　words　like　these。　In
amazement　they

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hear　the　testimony　that　Babylon　is　the　church；　fallen　because　of　her　errors
and　sins；　because　of　her　rejection　of　the　truth　sent　to　her　from　heaven。　As
the　people　go　to　their　former　teachers　with　the　eager　inquiry；　Are　these
things　so？　the　ministers　present　fables；　prophesy　smooth　things；　to　soothe
their　fears　and　quiet　the　awakened　conscience。　But　since　many　refuse　to　be
satisfied　with　the　mere　authority　of　men　and　demand　a　plain　〃Thus　saith　the
Lord；〃　the　popular　ministry；　like　the　Pharisees　of　old；　filled　with　anger　as
their　authority　is　questioned；　will　denounce　the　message　as　of　Satan　and
stir　up　the　sin…loving　multitudes　to　revile　and　persecute　those　who　proclaim
it。

As　the　controversy　extends　into　new　fields　and　the　minds　of　the　people　are
called　to　God's　downtrodden　law；　Satan　is　astir。　The　power　attending　the
message　will　only　madden　those　who　oppose　it。　The　clergy　will　put　forth
almost　superhuman　efforts　to　shut　away　the　light　lest　it　should　shine　upon
their　flocks。　By　every　means　at　their　command　they　will　endeavor　to　suppress
the　discussion　of　these　vital　questions。　The　church　appeals　to　the　strong
arm　of　civil　power；　and；　in　this　work；　papists　and　Protestants　unite。　As　the
movement　for　Sunday　enforcement　becomes　more　bold　and　decided；　the　law　will
be　invoked　against　commandment　keepers。　They　will　be　threatened　with　fines
and　imprisonment；　and　some　will　be　offered　positions　of　influence；　and　other
rewards　and　advantages；　as　inducements　to　renounce　their　faith。　But　their
steadfast　answer　is：　〃Show　us　from　the　word　of　God　our　error〃the　same　plea
that　was　made　by　Luther　under　similar　circumstances。　Those　who　are　arraigned
before　the　courts　make　a　strong　vindication　of　the　truth；　and　some　who　hear
them　are　led　to　take　their　stand　to　keep　all　the　commandments　of　God。　Thus
light　will　be　brought　before　thousands　who　otherwise　would　know　nothing　of
these　truths。

608


Conscientious　obedience　to　the　word　of　God　will　be　treated　as　rebellion。
Blinded　by　Satan；　the　parent　will　exercise　harshness　and　severity　toward　the
believing　child；　the　master　or　mistress　will　oppress　the　commandment…keeping
servant。　Affection　will　be　alienated；　children　will　be　disinherited　and
driven　from　home。　The　words　of　Paul　will　be　literally　fulfilled：　〃All　that
will　live　godly　in　Christ　Jesus　shall　suffer　persecution。〃　2　Timothy　3：12。
As　the　defenders　of　truth　refuse　to　honor　the　Sunday…sabbath；　some　of　them
will　be　thrust　into　prison；　some　will　be　exiled；　some　will　be　treated　as
slaves。　To　human　wisdom　all　this　now　seems　impossible；　but　as　the
restraining　Spirit　of　God　shall　be　withdrawn　from　men；　and　they　shall　be
under　the　control　of　Satan；　who　hates　the　divine　precepts；　there　will　be
strange　developments。　The　heart　can　be　very　cruel　when　God's　fear　and　love
are　removed。

As　the　storm　approaches；　a　large　class　who　have　professed　faith　in　the　third
angel's　message；　but　have　not　been　sanctified　through　obedience　to　the
truth；　abandon　their　position　and　join　the　ranks　of　the　opposition。　By
uniting　with　the　world　and　partaking　of　its　spirit；　they　have　come　to　view
matters　in　nearly　the　same　light；　and　when　the　test　is　brought；　they　are
prepared　to　choose　the　easy；　popular　side。　Men　of　talent　and　pleasing
address；　who　once　rejoiced　in　the　truth；　employ　their　powers　to　deceive　and
mislead　souls。　They　become　the　most　bitter　enemies　of　their　former　brethren。
When　Sabbathkeepers　are　brought　before　the　courts　to　answer　for　their　faith；
these　apostates　are　the　most　efficient　agents　of　Satan　to　misrepresent　and
accuse　them；　and　by　false　reports　and　insinuations　to　stir　up　the　rulers
against　them。

In　this　time　of　persecution　the　faith　of　the　Lord's　servants　will　be　tried。
They　have　faithfully　given　the　warning；　looking　to　God　and　to　His　word
alone。　God's　Spirit；　moving　upon　their　hearts；　has　constrained　them　to
speak。　Stimulated

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with　holy　zeal；　and　with　the　divine　impulse　strong　upon　them；　they　entered
upon　the　performance　of　their　duties　without　coldly　calculating　the
consequences　of　speaking　to　the　people　the　word　which　the　Lord　had　given
them。　They　have　not　consulted　their　temporal　interests；　nor　sought　to
preserve　their　reputation　or　their　lives。　Yet　when　the　storm　of　opposition
and　reproach　bursts　upon　them；　some；　overwhelmed　with　consternation；　will　be
ready　to　exclaim：　〃Had　we　foreseen　the　consequences　of　our　words；　we　would
have　held　our　peace。〃　They　are　hedged　in　with　difficulties。　Satan　assails
them　with　fierce　temptations。　The　work　which　they　have　undertaken　seems　far
beyond　their　ability　to　accomplish。　They　are　threatened　with　destruction。
The　enthusiasm　which　animated　them　is　gone；　yet　they　cannot　turn　back。　Then；
feeling　their　utter　helplessness；　they　flee　to　the　Mighty　One　for　strength。
They　remember　that　the　words　which　they　have　spoken　were　not　theirs；　but　His
who　bade　them　give　the　warning。　God　put　the　truth　into　their　hearts；　and
they　could　not　forbear　to　proclaim　it。

The　same　trials　have　been　experienced　by　men　of　God　in　ages　past。　Wycliffe；
Huss；　Luther；　Tyndale；　Baxter；　Wesley；　urged　that　all　doctrines　be　brought
to　the　test　of　the　Bible　and　declared　that　they　would　renounce　everything
which　it　condemned。　Against　these　men　persecution　raged　with　relentless
fury；　yet　they　ceased　not　to　declare　the　truth。　Different　periods　in　the
history　of　the　church　have　each　been　marked　by　the　development　o