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Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

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574 <strong>Testimonies</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong> <strong>Vol</strong>ume 1[624][625]in, a discussion carried on between two who were not in <strong>the</strong> faith,he became lifted up and thought himself sufficient to enter <strong>the</strong> battlewith anyone. And while he was so confident, he was, in <strong>the</strong> veryact, shorn of his strength. God was displeased with his disregard of<strong>the</strong> counsel of Bro<strong>the</strong>r Andrews. His self-sufficient spirit came nearmaking that discussion an utter failure. Unless <strong>the</strong>re is a decided gainin <strong>the</strong>se combats, <strong>the</strong>re is always a loss. They should never be rushedinto heedlessly, but every move should be made cautiously, with <strong>the</strong>greatest wisdom, <strong>for</strong> far more is pending than in a national battle.Satan and his host are all astir at <strong>the</strong>se conflicts between truth anderror, and if <strong>the</strong> advocates of truth do not go into battle in <strong>the</strong> strengthof God, Satan will manage to outgeneral <strong>the</strong>m every time.In <strong>the</strong> second combat <strong>the</strong>re was much, very much at stake. Ye<strong>the</strong>re again Bro<strong>the</strong>r F failed. He did not engage in that conflict feelinghis weakness and in humility and simplicity relying upon <strong>the</strong> strengthof God. He again felt a sufficiency in himself. His past successes hadlifted him up. He thought that <strong>the</strong> victories he had gained were verymuch due to his aptness in using <strong>the</strong> powerful arguments furnished in<strong>the</strong> word of God.I was shown that <strong>the</strong> advocates of truth should not seek discussions.And whenever it is necessary <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> advancement of <strong>the</strong> cause of truthand <strong>the</strong> glory of God that an opponent be met, how carefully and withwhat humility should <strong>the</strong>y go into <strong>the</strong> conflict. With heart-searching,confession of sin, and earnest prayer, and often fasting <strong>for</strong> a time,<strong>the</strong>y should entreat that God would especially help <strong>the</strong>m and give Hissaving, precious truth a glorious victory, that error might appear in itstrue de<strong>for</strong>mity and its advocates be completely discomfited. Thosewho battle <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> truth, against its opposers, should realize that <strong>the</strong>yare not meeting merely men, but that <strong>the</strong>y are contending with Satanand his angels, who are determined that error and darkness shall retain<strong>the</strong> field and <strong>the</strong> truth be covered up with error. As error is most inaccordance with <strong>the</strong> natural heart, it is taken <strong>for</strong> granted to be clear.Men who are at ease love error and darkness, and are unwilling to bere<strong>for</strong>med by <strong>the</strong> truth. They do not love to come to <strong>the</strong> light, lest <strong>the</strong>irdeeds should be reproved.If those who stand in vindication of <strong>the</strong> truth, trust to <strong>the</strong> weightof argument, with but a feeble reliance upon God, and thus meet <strong>the</strong>iropponents, nothing will be gained on <strong>the</strong> side of truth, but <strong>the</strong>re will

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