Himself does nothing contrary to these laws . Thus they represent God as bound by His own laws--as if the operation of divine laws could exclude divine freedom . Such teaching is opposed to the testimony of the Scriptures . Were not miracles wrought by Christ and His apostles ? The same compassionate Saviour lives today , and He is as willing to listen to the prayer of faith as when He walked visibly among men . The natural cooperates with the supernatural . It is a part of God ' s plan to grant us , in answer to the prayer of faith , that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask .
Innumerable are the erroneous doctrines and fanciful ideas that are obtaining among the churches of Christendom . It is impossible to estimate the evil results of removing one of the landmarks fixed by the word of God . Few who venture to do this stop with the rejection of a single truth . The majority continue to set aside one after another of the principles of truth , until they become actual infidels . The errors of popular theology have driven many a soul to skepticism who might otherwise have been a believer in the Scriptures . It is impossible for him to accept doctrines which outrage his sense of justice , mercy , and benevolence ; and since these are represented as the teaching of the Bible , he refuses to receive it as the word of God .
And this is the object which Satan seeks to accomplish . There is nothing that he desires more than to destroy confidence in God and in His word . Satan stands at the head of the great army of doubters , and he works to the utmost of his power to beguile souls into his ranks . It is becoming fashionable to doubt . There is a large class by whom the word of God is looked upon with distrust for the same reason as was its Author--because it reproves and condemns sin . Those who are unwilling to obey its requirements endeavor to overthrow its authority . They read the Bible , or listen to its teachings as presented from the sacred desk , merely to find fault with the Scriptures or with the sermon . Not a few become infidels in order to justify or excuse themselves in neglect of duty . Others adopt skeptical principles from pride and indolence .
Too ease-loving to distinguish themselves by accomplishing anything worthy of honor , which requires effort and self-denial , they aim to secure a reputation for superior wisdom by criticizing the Bible . There is much which the finite mind , unenlightened by divine wisdom , is powerless to comprehend ; and thus they find occasion to criticize . There are many who seem to feel that it is a virtue to stand on the side of unbelief , skepticism , and infidelity . But underneath an appearance of candor it will be found that such persons are actuated by selfconfidence and pride . Many delight in finding something in the Scriptures to puzzle the minds of others . Some at first criticize and reason on the wrong side , from a mere love of controversy . They do not realize that they are thus entangling themselves in the snare of the fowler . But
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