The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 597
the Christ?” It was the influence of such teachers that led the Jewish
nation to reject their Redeemer.
The spirit which actuated those priests and rulers is still manifested
by many who make a high profession of piety. They refuse to examine
the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the special truths for this time.
They point to their own numbers, wealth, and popularity, and look with
contempt upon the advocates of truth as few, poor, and unpopular, having
a faith that separates them from the world.
Christ foresaw that the undue assumption of authority indulged by
the scribes and Pharisees would not cease with the dispersion of the
Jews. He had a prophetic view of the work of exalting human authority
to rule the conscience, which has been so terrible a curse to the church
in all ages. And His fearful denunciations of the scribes and Pharisees,
and His warnings to the people not to follow these blind leaders, were
placed on record as an admonition to future generations.
The Roman Church reserves to the clergy the right to interpret the
Scriptures. On the ground that ecclesiastics alone are competent to
explain God’s word, it is withheld from the common people. [See
appendix note for page 340.] Though the Reformation gave the
Scriptures to all, yet the selfsame principle which was maintained
by Rome prevents multitudes in Protestant churches from searching
the Bible for themselves. They are taught to accept its teachings as
interpreted by the church; and there are thousands who dare receive
nothing, however plainly revealed in Scripture, that is contrary to their
creed or the established teaching of their church.
Notwithstanding the Bible is full of warnings against false teachers,
many are ready thus to commit the keeping of their souls to the clergy.
There are today thousands of professors of religion who can give no
other reason for points of faith which they hold than that they were
so instructed by their religious leaders. They pass by the Saviour’s
teachings almost
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