Counsels for the Church - Ellen G. White

against him. We must put on the whole armor of God. We must follow the
directions given through the spirit of prophecy. We must love and obey the
truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God
has spoken to us through His word. He has spoken to us through the
testimonies to the church and through the books that have helped to make
plain our present duty and the position that we should now occupy. The
warnings that have been given, line upon line, precept upon precept, should
be heeded. If we disregard them, what excuse can we offer?
I beseech those who are laboring for God not to accept the spurious for
the genuine. Let not human reason be placed where divine, sanctifying truth
should be. Christ is waiting to kindle faith and love in the hearts of His
people. Let not erroneous theories receive countenance from the people who
ought to be standing firm on the platform of eternal truth. God calls upon us
to hold firmly to the fundamental principles that are based upon
unquestionable authority.
The Love of and Knowledge of the Word--Our Surety
Into the hearts of many who have been long in the truth there has entered
a hard, judicial spirit. They are sharp, critical, faultfinding. They have
climbed upon the judgment seat to pronounce sentence upon those who do
not conform to their ideas. God calls upon them to come down and bow
before Him in repentance, confessing their sins. He says to them: "I have
somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or
else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his
place, except thou repent." Revelation 2:4, 5. They are striving for the first
place, and by their words and acts they make many hearts sore.
Christ calls upon His people to believe and practice His word. Those
who receive and assimilate this word, making it a part of every action, of
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