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| Notwithstanding the rage of persecution, a calm, devout, earnest, patient protest against the prevailing corruption of religious faith continued for centuries to be uttered. The Christians of that early time had only a partial knowledge of the truth, but they had learned to love and obey God's word, and they patiently suffered for its sake. Like the disciples in apostolic days, many sacrificed their worldly possessions for the cause of Christ. Those who were permitted to dwell in their homes gladly sheltered their banished brethren, and when they too were driven forth they cheerfully accepted the lot of the outcast. Thousands, it is true, terrified by the fury of their persecutors, purchased their freedom at the sacrifice of their faith, and went out of their prisons, clothed in penitents' robes, to publish their recantation. But the number was not small--and among them were men of noble birth as well as the humble and lowly -- who bore fearless testimony to the truth in dungeon cells, in "Lollard towers," and in the midst of torture and flame, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to know "the fellowship of His sufferings." {GC 95.1} |
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| While God has given ample evidence for faith, He will never remove all excuse for unbelief. All who look for hooks to hang their doubts upon will find them. And those who refuse to accept and obey God's word until every objection has been removed, and there is no longer an opportunity for doubt, will never come to the light. {2MCP 672.1} |
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| Those who have passed through a struggle to rise above the realm of doubt and conjecture, realize that "while God has given ample evidence for faith, He will never remove all excuse for unbelief. All who look for hooks to hang their doubts upon, will find them. And those who refuse to accept and obey God's Word until every objection has been removed, and there is no longer an opportunity for doubt, will never come to the light."-- Great Controversy, p. 527. (Italics author's.) {9MR 204.1} |
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| Says Christ, "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." And again, "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine." Those who obey God's will as it is revealed to their understanding, will be safely guided into the way of life. But it is impossible for finite man to fully understand the purposes and ways of the Infinite One. Those who refuse to accept and obey God's word until every objection has been removed, and there is no longer an opportunity for doubt, will never come to the light. Truth and error are before us. God has given us sufficient evidence to determine the right way, and then he leaves us to choose for ourselves. {ST, February 16, 1882 par. 12} {ST, February 24, 1887 par. 10} |
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| These blessed assurances are for every one who will respect them, and who will, in character, reveal to the world their interpretation. "If ye love me," Christ said, "keep my commandments." If we are doers of the Word, we can come to God with full assurance of faith, saying, "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope." When we zealously obey God's word from the heart, we may make that word our plea. The Lord always works in accordance with his word. {RH, December 6, 1898 par. 10} |
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The obeying of the Word of God will lead to a state of things vastly different from that which now exists. There will be the putting away of fleshly lusts and greed for gain. That this sin has existed could not be better demonstrated than by the grasping for large wages by those who were professedly acting in Christ's stead, claiming to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works. God is displeased that His work is not advancing in new territories.-- Letter 187, 1899. (Written to S. N. Haskell, from "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, N. S. W., Nov. 16, 1899.) White Estate Washington, D. C. March 1, 1984 {13MR 291.2}
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