The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials: Volume 2 - Ellen G. White

his father has said and what his father, or some
great and good man in past generations, has done,
and sinks himself, his individuality, in them. Some
who think that they preach the gospel are preaching
other men's ideas. Through some means they have
come to the decision that it is no part of a minister's
calling or duty to think diligently and prayerfully.
He accepts what other men have taught without
asserting his individuality. This doctrine, taught by
the church of Rome, is entire dependence upon the
leaders. The individual's conscience is not his own.
Judgment must be controlled by other men's ideas.
His intelligence is to go no farther than that of
those who are leaders.
Now Satan has his hand in all this work to
narrow down the work of God. Ministers of Jesus
Christ are to be constantly receiving light from the
Source of all light. They are not to be simply
receivers of other men's thoughts, they themselves
not plowing deep into the mines of truth. If a
minister is not a worker himself, digging for the
truth as for hidden treasure to find the precious
jewels of truth, he is forfeiting his God-given