given the promise : " If any man will do His will , he shall know of the doctrine ." John 7:17 . If men would but take the Bible as it reads , if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse their minds , a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now wandering in error .
We should exert all the powers of the mind in the study of the Scriptures and should task the understanding to comprehend , as far as mortals can , the deep things of God ; yet we must not forget that the docility and submission of a child is the true spirit of the learner . Scriptural difficulties can never be mastered by the same methods that are employed in grappling with philosophical problems . We should not engage in the study of the Bible with that self-reliance with which so many enter the domains of science , but with a prayerful dependence upon God and a sincere desire to learn His will . We must come with a humble and teachable spirit to obtain knowledge from the great I AM . Otherwise , evil angels will so blind our minds and harden our hearts that we shall not be impressed by the truth .
Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery , or pass over as unimportant , is full of comfort and instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ . One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God ' s word is , they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice . As understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose , the earnest longing after righteousness .
The Bible should never be studied without prayer . The Holy Spirit alone can cause us to feel the importance of those things easy to be understood , or prevent us from wresting truths difficult of comprehension . It is the office of heavenly angels to prepare the heart so to comprehend God ' s word that we shall be charmed with its beauty , admonished by its warnings , or animated and strengthened by its promises . We should make the psalmist ' s petition our own : " Open Thou mine eyes , that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law ." Psalm 119:18 . Temptations often appear irresistible because , through neglect of prayer and the study of the Bible , the tempted one cannot readily remember God ' s promises and meet Satan with the Scripture weapons . But angels are round about those who are willing to be taught in divine things ; and in the time of great necessity they will bring to their remembrance the very truths which are needed . Thus " when the enemy shall come in like a flood , the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him ." Isaiah 59:19 .
Jesus promised His disciples : " The Comforter , which is the Holy Ghost , whom the Father will send in My name , He shall teach you all things , and bring all things to your
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