The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 596
endure sound doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:3. That time has fully come. The
multitudes do not want Bible truth, because it interferes with the desires
of the sinful, world-loving heart; and Satan supplies the deceptions
which they love.
But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible,
and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of
all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science,
the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and
discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the
majority—not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for
or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or
precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.
Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man in the
place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors,
to professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the
Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then, by controlling the
minds of these leaders, he can influence the multitudes according to his
will.
When Christ came to speak the words of life, the common people
heard Him gladly; and many, even of the priests and rulers, believed on
Him. But the chief of the priesthood and the leading men of the nation
were determined to condemn and repudiate His teachings. Though they
were baffled in all their efforts to find accusations against Him, though
they could not but feel the influence of the divine power and wisdom
attending His words, yet they incased themselves in prejudice; they
rejected the clearest evidence of His Messiahship, lest they should be
forced to become His disciples. These opponents of Jesus were men
whom the people had been taught from infancy to reverence, to whose
authority they had been accustomed implicitly to bow. “How is it,”
they asked, “that our rulers and learned scribes do not believe on Jesus?
Would not these pious men receive Him if He were
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