The Great Controversy - Righteousness is Love

145work of Satan, prompted by the same spirit of rebellion which was firstmanifested in heaven.Satan is constantly seeking to deceive men and lead them to call sinrighteousness, and righteousness sin. How successful has been his work!How often censure and reproach are cast upon God's faithful servantsbecause they ly in defense of the truth! Men who are but agents of Satan arepraised and flattered, and even looked upon as martyrs, while those whoshould be respected and sustained for their fidelity to God, are left to standalone, under suspicion and distrust.Counterfeit holiness, spurious sanctification, is still doing its work ofdeception. Under various forms it exhibits the same spirit as in the days ofLuther, diverting minds from the Scriptures and leading men to follow theirown feelings and impressions rather than to yield obedience to the law ofGod. This is one of Satan's most successful devices to cast reproach uponpurity and truth.Fearlessly did Luther defend the gospel from the attacks which came fromevery quarter. The word of God proved itself a weapon mighty in everyconflict. With that word he warred against the usurped authority of thepope, and the rationalistic philosophy of the schoolmen, while he stood firmas a rock against the fanaticism that sought to ally itself with theReformation.Each of these opposing elements was in its own way setting aside the HolyScriptures and exalting human wisdom as the source of religious truth andknowledge. Rationalism idolizes reason and makes this the criterion forreligion. Romanism, claiming for her sovereign pontiff an inspirationdescended in unbroken line from the apostles, and unchangeable through alltime, gives ample opportunity for every species of extravagance andcorruption to be concealed under the sanctity of the apostolic commission.The inspiration claimed by Munzer and his associates proceeded from nohigher source than the vagaries of the imagination, and its influence wassubversive of all authority, human or divine. True Christianity receives theword of God as the great treasure house of inspired truth and the test of allinspiration.Upon his return from the Wartburg, Luther completed his translation of theNew Testament, and the gospel was soon after given to the people ofGermany in their own language. This translation was received with greatjoy by all who loved the truth; but it was scornfully rejected by those whochose human traditions and the commandments of men.