Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

consequences may be. The law of our land requiring us to deliver a slave to his master,we are not to obey; and we must abide the consequences of violating this law. Theslave is not the property of any man. God is his rightful master, and man has no rightto take God’s workmanship into his hands, and claim him as his own.I saw that the Lord still has something to do with the laws of the land. While Jesusis in the sanctuary, God’s restraining Spirit is felt by rulers and people. But Satancontrols to a great extent the mass of the world, and were it not for the laws of the land,we should experience much suffering. I was shown that when it is actually necessary,and they are called upon to testify in a lawful manner, it is no violation of God’s wordfor His children to solemnly take God to witness that what they say is the truth, andnothing but the truth.Man is so corrupt that laws are made to throw the responsibility upon his own head.Some men do not fear to lie to their fellow man; but they have been taught, and therestraining Spirit of God has impressed them, that it is a fearful thing to lie to God. Thecase of Ananias and Sapphira his wife is given for an example. The matter is carriedfrom man to God, so that if one bears false witness, it is not to man, but to the greatGod, who reads the heart, and knows the exact truth in every case. Our laws make it ahigh crime to take a false oath. God has often visited judgment upon the false swearer,and even while the oath was on his lips, the destroying angel has cut him down. Thiswas to prove a terror to evildoers.I saw that if there is anyone on earth who can consistently testify under oath, itis the Christian. He lives in the light of God’s countenance. He grows strong in Hisstrength. And when matters of importance must be decided by law, there is no one whocan so well appeal to God as the Christian. I was bidden by the angel to notice thatGod swears by202