Mind, Character, and Personality Vol. 2 - Second Advent Revival

complicated reasoning. He comes right to the point. In His ministry He read every heart
as an open book, and from the inexhaustible store of His treasure-house He drew
things both new and old to illustrate and enforce His teachings. He touched the heart
and awakened the sympathies.--MS 24, 1891. (Ev 171.) {2MCP 573.4}
Easy to Understand.--Christ's manner of teaching was beautiful and attractive, and
it was ever characterized by simplicity. He unfolded the mysteries of the kingdom of
heaven through the use of figures and symbols with which His hearers were familiar;
and the common people heard Him gladly, for they could comprehend His words. There
were no high-sounding words used, to understand
574
which it was necessary to consult a dictionary.--CT 240 (1913). {2MCP 573.5}
He Used Plain Language.--Argument is good in its place, but far more can be
accomplished by simple explanations of the Word of God. The lessons of Christ were
illustrated so clearly that the most ignorant could readily comprehend them. Jesus did
not use long and difficult words in His discourses; He used plain language, adapted to
the minds of the common people. He went no further into the subject He was
expounding than they were able to follow Him.--GW 169 (1915). {2MCP 574.1}
Serious Subjects Versus Sentimental Nonsense.-- What is more worthy to
engross the mind than the plan of redemption? It is a subject that is exhaustless. The
love of Jesus, the salvation offered to fallen man through His infinite love, holiness of
heart, the precious, saving truth for these last days, the grace of Christ--these are
subjects which may animate the soul and cause the pure in heart to feel that joy which
the disciples felt when Jesus came and walked with them as they traveled toward
Emmaus. {2MCP 574.2}
He who has centered his affections upon Christ will relish this kind of hallowed
association and will gather divine strength by such intercourse; but he who has no relish
for this kind of conversation and who is best pleased to talk sentimental nonsense has
wandered far away from God and is becoming dead to holy and noble aspirations. The
sensual, the earthly, is interpreted by such to be heavenly.--5T 600 (1889). {2MCP 574.3}
Reaching Out for Human Sympathy.--When the conversation is of a frivolous
character and savors of a dissatisfied reaching out after human sympathy and
appreciation, it springs from love-sick sentimentalism, and neither the youth nor the
men with gray hairs are secure. When the truth of God is an abiding principle in the
575
heart, it will be like a living spring. Attempts may be made to repress it, but it will gush
forth in another place; it is there and cannot be repressed. The truth in the heart is a
wellspring of life. It refreshes the weary and restrains vile thought and utterance.--5T
600, 601 (1889). {2MCP 574.4}