the great controversy-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　midst　of　crackling　flames。　Looking　upward　by　faith；　they　saw　Christ　and
angels　leaning　over　the　battlements　of　heaven；　gazing　upon　them　with　the
deepest　interest　and　regarding　their　steadfastness　with　approval。　A　voice
came　down　to　them　from　the　throne　of　God：　〃Be　thou　faithful　unto　death；　and
I　will　give　thee　a　crown　of　life。〃　Revelation　2：10。

In　vain　were　Satan's　efforts　to　destroy　the　church　of　Christ　by　violence。
The　great　controversy　in　which　the　disciples　of　Jesus　yielded　up　their　lives
did　not　cease　when　these　faithful　standard…bearers　fell　at　their　post。　By
defeat　they　conquered。　God's　workmen　were　slain；　but　His　work　went　steadily
forward。　The　gospel　continued　to　spread　and　the　number　of　its　adherents　to
increase。　It　penetrated　into　regions　that　were　inaccessible　even　to　the
eagles　of　Rome。　Said　a　Christian；　expostulating　with　the　heathen　rulers　who
were　urging　forward　the　persecution：　You　may　〃kill　us；　torture　us；　condemn
us。　。　。　。　Your　injustice　is　the　proof　that　we　are　innocent

42

。　。　。　。　Nor　does　your　cruelty　。　。　。　avail　you。〃　It　was　but　a　stronger
invitation　to　bring　others　to　their　persuasion。　〃The　oftener　we　are　mown
down　by　you；　the　more　in　number　we　grow；　the　blood　of　Christians　is
seed。〃Tertullian；　Apology；　paragraph　50。

Thousands　were　imprisoned　and　slain；　but　others　sprang　up　to　fill　their
places。　And　those　who　were　martyred　for　their　faith　were　secured　to　Christ
and　accounted　of　Him　as　conquerors。　They　had　fought　the　good　fight；　and　they
were　to　receive　the　crown　of　glory　when　Christ　should　come。　The　sufferings
which　they　endured　brought　Christians　nearer　to　one　another　and　to　their
Redeemer。　Their　living　example　and　dying　testimony　were　a　constant　witness
for　the　truth；　and　where　least　expected；　the　subjects　of　Satan　were　leaving
his　service　and　enlisting　under　the　banner　of　Christ。

Satan　therefore　laid　his　plans　to　war　more　successfully　against　the
government　of　God　by　planting　his　banner　in　the　Christian　church。　If　the
followers　of　Christ　could　be　deceived　and　led　to　displease　God；　then　their
strength；　fortitude；　and　firmness　would　fail；　and　they　would　fall　an　easy
prey。

The　great　adversary　now　endeavored　to　gain　by　artifice　what　he　had　failed　to
secure　by　force。　Persecution　ceased；　and　in　its　stead　were　substituted　the
dangerous　allurements　of　temporal　prosperity　and　worldly　honor。　Idolaters
were　led　to　receive　a　part　of　the　Christian　faith；　while　they　rejected　other
essential　truths。　They　professed　to　accept　Jesus　as　the　Son　of　God　and　to
believe　in　His　death　and　resurrection；　but　they　had　no　conviction　of　sin　and
felt　no　need　of　repentance　or　of　a　change　of　heart。　With　some　concessions　on
their　part　they　proposed　that　Christians　should　make　concessions；　that　all
might　unite　on　the　platform　of　belief　in　Christ。

Now　the　church　was　in　fearful　peril。　Prison；　torture；　fire；　and　sword　were
blessings　in　comparison　with　this。　Some　of　the　Christians　stood　firm；
declaring　that　they　could　make　no

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　43

compromise。　Others　were　in　favor　of　yielding　or　modifying　some　features　of
their　faith　and　uniting　with　those　who　had　accepted　a　part　of　Christianity；
urging　that　this　might　be　the　means　of　their　full　conversion。　That　was　a
time　of　deep　anguish　to　the　faithful　followers　of　Christ。　Under　a　cloak　of
pretended　Christianity；　Satan　was　insinuating　himself　into　the　church；　to
corrupt　their　faith　and　turn　their　minds　from　the　word　of　truth。

Most　of　the　Christians　at　last　consented　to　lower　their　standard；　and　a
union　was　formed　between　Christianity　and　paganism。　Although　the　worshipers
of　idols　professed　to　be　converted；　and　united　with　the　church；　they　still
clung　to　their　idolatry；　only　changing　the　objects　of　their　worship　to
images　of　Jesus；　and　even　of　Mary　and　the　saints。　The　foul　leaven　of
idolatry；　thus　brought　into　the　church；　continued　its　baleful　work。　Unsound
doctrines；　superstitious　rites；　and　idolatrous　ceremonies　were　incorporated
into　her　faith　and　worship。　As　the　followers　of　Christ　united　with
idolaters；　the　Christian　religion　became　corrupted；　and　the　church　lost　her
purity　and　power。　There　were　some；　however；　who　were　not　misled　by　these
delusions。　They　still　maintained　their　fidelity　to　the　Author　of　truth　and
worshiped　God　alone。

There　have　ever　been　two　classes　among　those　who　profess　to　be　followers　of
Christ。　While　one　class　study　the　Saviour's　life　and　earnestly　seek　to
correct　their　defects　and　conform　to　the　Pattern；　the　other　class　shun　the
plain；　practical　truths　which　expose　their　errors。　Even　in　her　best　estate
the　church　was　not　composed　wholly　of　the　true；　pure；　and　sincere。　Our
Saviour　taught　that　those　who　willfully　indulge　in　sin　are　not　to　be
received　into　the　church；　yet　He　connected　with　Himself　men　who　were　faulty
in　character；　and　granted　them　the　benefits　of　His　teachings　and　example；
that　they　might　have　an　opportunity　to　see　their　errors　and　correct　them。
Among　the　twelve　apostles　was　a　traitor。　Judas　was　accepted；　not

44

because　of　his　defects　of　character；　but　notwithstanding　them。　He　was
connected　with　the　disciples；　that；　through　the　instruction　and　example　of
Christ；　he　might　learn　what　constitutes　Christian　character；　and　thus　be　led
to　see　his　errors；　to　repent；　and；　by　the　aid　of　divine　grace；　to　purify　his
soul　〃in　obeying　the　truth。〃　But　Judas　did　not　walk　in　the　light　so
graciously　permitted　to　shine　upon　him。　By　indulgence　in　sin　he　invited　the
temptations　of　Satan。　His　evil　traits　of　character　became　predominant。　He
yielded　his　mind　to　the　control　of　the　powers　of　darkness；　he　became　angry
when　his　faults　were　reproved；　and　thus　he　was　led　to　commit　the　fearful
crime　of　betraying　his　Master。　So　do　all　who　cherish　evil　under　a　profession
of　godliness　hate　those　who　disturb　their　peace　by　condemning　their　course
of　sin。　When　a　favorable　opportunity　is　presented；　they　will；　like　Judas；
betray　those　who　for　their　good　have　sought　to　reprove　them。

The　apostles　encountered　those　in　the　church　who　professed　godliness　while
they　were　secretly　cherishing　iniquity。　Ananias　and　Sapphira　acted　the　part
of　deceivers；　pretending　to　make　an　entire　sacrifice　for　God；　when　they　were
covetously　withholding　a　portion　for　themselves。　The　Spirit　of　truth
revealed　to　the　apostles　the　real　character　of　these　pretenders；　and　the
judgments　of　God　rid　the　church　of　this　foul　blot　upon　its　purity。　This
signal　evidence　of　the　discerning　Spirit　of　Christ　in　the　church　was　a
terror　to　hypocrites　and　evildoers。　They　could　not　long　remain　in　connection
with　those　who　were；　in　habit　and　disposition；　constant　representatives　of
Christ；　and　as　trials　and　persecution　came　upon　His　followers；　those　only
who　were　willing　to　forsake　all　for　the　truth's　sake　desired　to　become　His
disciples。　Thus；　as　long　as　persecution　continued；　the　church　remained
comparatively　pure。　But　as　it　ceased；　converts　were　added　who　were　less
sincere　and　devoted；　and　the　way　was　open　for　Satan　to　obtain　a　foothold。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　45


But　there　is　no　union　between　the　Prince　of　light　and　the　prince　of
darkness；　and　there　can　be　no　union　between　their　followers。　When　Christians
consented　to　unite　with　those　who　were　but　half　converted　from　paganism；
they　entered　upon　a　path　which　led　further　and　further　from　the　truth。　Satan
exulted　that　he　had　succeeded　in　deceiving　so　large　a　number　of　the
followers　of　Christ。　He　then　brought　his　power　to　bear　more　fully　upon
these；　and　inspired　them　to　persecute　those　who　remained　true　to　God。　None
understood　so　well　how　to　oppose　the　true　Christian　faith　as　did　those　who
had　once　been　its　defenders；　and　these　apostate　Christians；　uniting　with
their　half…pagan　companions；　directed　their　warfare　against　the　most
essential　features　of　the　doctrines　of　Christ。

It　required　a　desperate　struggle　for　those　who　would　be　faithful　to　stand
firm　against　the　deceptions　and　abominations　which　were　disguised　in
sacerdotal　garments　and　introduced　into　the　church。　The　Bible　was　not
accepted　as　the　standard　of　faith。　The　doctrine　of　religious　freedom　was
termed　heresy；　and　its　upholders　were　hated　and　proscribed。

After　a　long　and　severe　conflict；　the　faithful　few　decided　to　dissolve　all
union　with　the　apostate　church　if　she　still　refused　to　free　herself　from
falsehood　and　idolatry。　They　saw　that　separation　was　an　absolute　necessity
if　they　would　obey　the　word　of　God。　They　dared　not　tolerate　errors　fatal　to
their　own　souls；　and　set　an　example　which　would　imperil　the　faith　of　their
children　and　children's　children。　To　secure　peace　and　unity　they　were　ready
to　make　any　concession　consistent　with　fidelity　to　God；　but　they　felt　that
even　peace　would　be　too　dearly　purchased　at　the　sacrifice　of　principle。　If
unity　could　be　secured　only　by　the　compromise　of　truth　and　righteousness；
then　let　there　be　difference；　and　even　war。

46


Well　would　it　be　for　the　church　and　the　world　if　the　principles　that
actuated　those　steadfast　souls　were　revived　in　the　hearts　of　God's　professed
people。　There　is　an　alarming　indifference　in　regard　to　the　do