The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 10

impressions, to the neglect of the Scriptures, can lead only to confusion,
to deception and ruin. It serves only to further the designs of the evil
one. Since the ministry of the Holy Spirit is of vital importance to the
church of Christ, it is one of the devices of Satan, through the errors
of extremists and fanatics, to cast contempt upon the work of the Spirit
and cause the people of God to neglect this source of strength which our
Lord Himself has provided.
In harmony with the word of God, His Spirit was to continue its work
throughout the period of the gospel dispensation. During the ages while
the Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament were being given,
the Holy Spirit did not cease to communicate light to individual minds,
apart from the revelations to be embodied in the Sacred Canon. The
Bible itself relates how, through the Holy Spirit, men received warning,
reproof, counsel, and instruction, in matters in no way relating to the
giving of the Scriptures. And mention is made of prophets in different
ages, of whose utterances nothing is recorded. In like manner, after the
close of the canon of the Scripture, the Holy Spirit was still to continue
its work, to enlighten, warn, and comfort the children of God.
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 remembrance, whatsoever I have
said unto you.” “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide
you into all truth: ... and He will show you things to come.” John 14:26;
16:13. Scripture plainly teaches that these promises, so far from being
limited to apostolic days, extend to the church of Christ in all ages. The
Saviour assures His followers, “I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world.” Matthew 28:20. And Paul declares that the gifts and
manifestations of the Spirit were set in the church “for the perfecting of
the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and