with holy zeal , and with the divine impulse strong upon them , they entered upon the performance of their duties without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking to the people the word which the Lord had given them . They have not consulted their temporal interests , nor sought to preserve their reputation or their lives . Yet when the storm of opposition and reproach bursts upon them , some , overwhelmed with consternation , will be ready to exclaim : “ Had we foreseen the consequences of our words , we would have held our peace .” They are hedged in with difficulties . Satan assails them with fierce temptations . The work which they have undertaken seems far beyond their ability to accomplish . They are threatened with destruction . The enthusiasm which animated them is gone ; yet they cannot turn back . Then , feeling their utter helplessness , they flee to the Mighty One for strength . They remember that the words which they have spoken were not theirs , but His who bade them give the warning . God put the truth into their hearts , and they could not forbear to proclaim it .
The same trials have been experienced by men of God in ages past . Wycliffe , Huss , Luther , Tyndale , Baxter , Wesley , urged that all doctrines be brought to the test of the Bible and declared that they would renounce everything which it condemned . Against these men persecution raged with relentless fury ; yet they ceased not to declare the truth . Different periods in the history of the church have each been marked by the development of some special truth , adapted to the necessities of God ’ s people at that time . Every new truth has made its way against hatred and opposition ; those who were blessed with its light were tempted and tried . The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency . Who dare refuse to publish it ? He commands His servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world . They cannot remain silent , except at the peril of their souls . Christ ’ s ambassadors
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