The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 585
No error accepted by the Christian world strikes more boldly against
the authority of Heaven, none is more directly opposed to the dictates of
reason, none is more pernicious in its results, than the modern doctrine,
so rapidly gaining ground, that God’s law is no longer binding upon
men. Every nation has its laws, which command respect and obedience;
no government could exist without them; and can it be conceived that the
Creator of the heavens and the earth has no law to govern the beings He
has made? Suppose that prominent ministers were publicly to teach that
the statutes which govern their land and protect the rights of its citizens
were not obligatory—that they restricted the liberties of the people, and
therefore ought not to be obeyed; how long would such men be tolerated
in the pulpit? But is it a graver offense to disregard the laws of states
and nations than to trample upon those divine precepts which are the
foundation of all government?
It would be far more consistent for nations to abolish their statutes,
and permit the people to do as they please, than for the Ruler of the
universe to annul His law, and leave the world without a standard to
condemn the guilty or justify the obedient. Would we know the result of
making void the law of God? The experiment has been tried. Terrible
were the scenes enacted in France when atheism became the controlling
power. It was then demonstrated to the world that to throw off the
restraints which God has imposed is to accept the rule of the cruelest
of tyrants. When the standard of righteousness is set aside, the way is
open for the prince of evil to establish his power in the earth.
Wherever the divine precepts are rejected, sin ceases to appear
sinful or righteousness desirable. Those who refuse to submit to the
government of God are wholly unfitted to govern themselves. Through
their pernicious teachings the spirit of insubordination is implanted in
the hearts of children and youth, who are naturally impatient of control;
and a lawless, licentious state of society results. While scoffing at the
credulity of those who obey the requirements of God,
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