Try The Spirits

“Believe not every spirit,” Writes the Apostle John, “But try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:
every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.” 1 John 4:1-3. – {CET 246.2}
False prophets do not exalt Christ. They rather draw attention to themselves. “Speaking perverse
things,” they “draw away disciples” after themselves. Acts 20:30. To accomplish this, they teach
in a manner to please the carnal mind of those who in their hearts “say to the seers, see not; and
to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things.” Isaiah 30:10.
These alleged prophets or teachers are “of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the
world heareth them.” 1 John 4:5. – {CET 246.3}
In the teachings of Mrs. White, Christ is recognized and exalted as the only Saviour for sinners.
Than Christ “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.” Acts 4:12. In her own work for the Master, she exemplified the following instruction
given by her to her brethren in the ministry: – {CET 246.4}
“Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ ascended into the heavens, Christ coming again, should so
soften, gladden, and fill the mind of the minister that he will present these truths to the people in
love and deep earnestness. The minister will then be lost sight of, and Jesus will be made
manifest. Lift up Jesus, you that teach the people, lift Him up in sermon, in song, in prayer. Let
all your powers be directed to pointing souls, confused, bewildered, lost, to the ‘Lamb of God.’
Lift Him up, the risen Saviour, and say to all who hear, come to Him who ‘hath loved us, and
hath given Himself for us.’ Let the science of salvation be the burden of every sermon, the theme
of every song. Let it be poured forth in every supplication. Bring nothing into your preaching to
supplement Christ, the wisdom and power of God. Hold forth the word of life, presenting Jesus
as the hope of the penitent and the stronghold of every believer. Reveal the way of peace to the
troubled and the despondent, and show forth the grace and completeness of the Saviour.”—
Gospel Workers, 159, 160. – {CET 247.1}

The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to supersede the Bible; for the
Scriptures explicitly state that the word of God is the standard by which all teaching and
experience must be tested. Says the apostle John, “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.
And Isaiah declares, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it
is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. [118] – {CCh 92.2}

“Quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21. – {EW 141.2}
In this epistle the apostle introduces the subject of the second coming of the Lord. He then
describes the state of the unbelieving world at that time, who are saying, “Peace and safety,”
when the day of the Lord is about to burst upon them, and sudden destruction come upon them as
a thief in the night. He then exhorts the Church, in view of these things, to keep awake, to watch
and be sober. Among the exhortations that follow are the words we have quoted, “Quench not
the spirit,” etc. Some may think that these three verses are completely detached from one another
in sense; but they have a natural connection in the order in which they stand. The person who
quenches the spirit will be left to despise prophesyings, which are the legitimate fruit of the
spirit. “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall – {EW
141.3}
prophesy.” Joel 2:28. The expression, “Prove all things,” is limited to the subject of discourse,
prophesyings, and we are to try the spirits by the tests which God has given us in his word.
Spiritual deceptions and false prophesyings abound at the present time; and doubtless this text
has a special application here. But mark, the apostle does not say, reject all things; but, prove all
things; Hold Fast that which is Good. – {EW 142.1}
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my
spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of
smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the
terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be delivered: For in mount zion and in jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord
hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” Joel 2:28-32. – {EW 142.2}
This prophecy of Joel, which speaks of the outpouring of the holy spirit in the last days, was not
all fulfilled at the beginning of the gospel dispensation. This is evident from the wonders in
heaven and in earth, introduced in this text, which were to be precursors of “The great and
terrible day of the Lord.” though we have had the signs, that terrible day is still in the future. The
whole gospel dispensation may be called the last days, but to say that the Last Days are all 1800
years in the past, is absurd. They reach to the day of the Lord and to the deliverance of the
remnant of God’s people: “For in mount zion and in jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord
hath said, and in the Remnant whom the Lord shall call.” – {EW 142.3}
This remnant, existing amid the signs and wonders that usher in the great and terrible day of the
Lord, is doubtless the remnant of the seed of the woman spoken of in Revelation 12:17—The last
generation of the Church on Earth. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to
make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.” – {EW 143.1}
The remnant of the Gospel Church will have the gifts. War will be waged against them because
they keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17.)
In Revelation 19:10, the testimony of Jesus is defined to be the spirit of prophecy. Said the angel,
“I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus.” In Revelation
22:9, he repeats the same in substance, as follows: “I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren
the prophets.” From the comparison we see the force of the expression, “The testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy.” But the testimony of Jesus includes all the gifts of that one spirit. Says
paul: “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus
Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as
the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-7. The testimony of Christ was confirmed in
the Corinthian Church; and what was the result? They came behind in no gift. Are we not
justified, then, in the conclusion that when the remnant are fully confirmed in the testimony of
Jesus, they will come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? – {EW
143.2}
Roswell F. Cottrell

The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to supersede the Bible; for the
Scriptures explicitly state that the word of God is the standard by which all teaching and
experience must be tested. Says the apostle John, “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.
And Isaiah declares, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it
is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. – {GC vii.3}
Great reproach has been cast upon the work of the Holy Spirit by the errors of a class that,
claiming its enlightenment, profess to have no further need of guidance from the word of God.
They are governed by impressions which they regard as the voice of God in the soul. But the
spirit that controls them is not the Spirit of God. This following of impressions, to the neglect of
the Scriptures, can lead only to confusion, to deception and ruin. It serves only to further the
designs of the evil one. Since the ministry of the Holy Spirit is of vital importance to the church
of Christ, it is one of the devices of Satan, through the errors of extremists and fanatics, to cast
contempt upon the work of the Spirit and cause the people of God to neglect this source of
strength which our Lord Himself has provided. – {GC vii.4}
In harmony with the word of God, His Spirit was to continue its work throughout the period of
the gospel dispensation. During the ages while the Scriptures of both the Old and the New
Testament were being given, the Holy Spirit did not cease to communicate light to individual
minds, apart from the revelations to be embodied in the Sacred Canon. The Bible itself relates
how, through the Holy Spirit, men received warning, reproof, counsel, and instruction, in matters
in no way relating to the giving of the Scriptures. And mention is made of prophets in different
ages, of whose utterances nothing is recorded. In like manner, after the close of the canon of the
Scripture, the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work, to enlighten, warn, and comfort the
children of God. – {GC viii.1}
Jesus promised His disciples, “The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.” “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into
all truth: ... and He will show you things to come.” John 14:26; 16:13. Scripture plainly teaches
that these promises, so far from being limited to apostolic days, extend to the church of Christ in
all ages. The Saviour assures His followers, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world.” Matthew 28:20. And Paul declares that the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit were set
in the church “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12, 13.
– {GC viii.2}
For the believers at Ephesus the apostle prayed, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His
calling, and ... what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe.” Ephesians
1:17-19. The ministry of the divine Spirit in enlightening the understanding and opening to the
mind the deep things of God’s holy word, was the blessing which Paul thus besought for the
Ephesian church. – {GC ix.1}
After the wonderful manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Peter exhorted the
people to repentance and baptism in the name of Christ, for the remission of their sins; and he
said: “Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:38, 39.
– {GC ix.2}
In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God, the Lord by the prophet Joel
has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit. Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial
fulfillment in the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost; but it will reach its full
accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the
gospel. – {GC ix.3}
The great controversy between good and evil will increase in intensity to the very close of time.
In all ages the wrath of Satan has been manifested against the church of Christ; and God has
bestowed His grace and Spirit upon His people to strengthen them to stand against the power of
the evil one. When the apostles of Christ were to bear His gospel to the world and to record it for
all future ages, they were especially endowed with the enlightenment of the Spirit. But as the
church approaches her final deliverance, Satan is to work with greater power. He comes down
“having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12. He
will work “with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9. For six thousand
years that mastermind that once was highest among the angels of God has been wholly bent to
the work of deception and ruin. And all the depths of satanic skill and subtlety acquired, all the
cruelty developed, during these struggles of the ages, will be brought to bear against God’s
people in the final conflict. And in this time of peril the followers of Christ are to bear to the
world the warning of the Lord’s second advent; and a people are to be prepared to stand before
Him at His coming, “without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:14. At this time the special
endowment of divine grace and power is not less needful to the church than in apostolic days. –
{GC ix.4}

William Miller had no sympathy with those influences that led to fanaticism. He declared, with
Luther, that every spirit should be tested by the word of God. “The devil,” said Miller, “has great
power over the minds of some at the present day. And how shall we know what manner of spirit
they are of? The Bible answers: ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’... There are many spirits
gone out into the world; and we are commanded to try the spirits. The spirit that does not cause
us to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, is not the Spirit of Christ. I am
more and more convinced that Satan has much to do in these wild movements.... Many among us
who pretend to be wholly sanctified, are following the traditions of men, and apparently are as
ignorant of truth as others who make no such pretensions.”—Bliss, pages 236, 237. “The spirit of
error will lead us from the truth; and the Spirit of God will lead us into truth. But, say you, a man
may be in an error, and think he has the truth. What then? We answer, The Spirit and word agree.
If a man judges himself by the word of God, and finds a perfect harmony through the whole
word, then he must believe he has the truth; but if he finds the spirit by which he is led does not
harmonize with the whole tenor of God’s law or Book, then let him walk carefully, lest he be
caught in the snare of the devil.”—The Advent Herald and Signs of the Times Reporter,January
15, 1845. “I have often obtained more evidence of inward piety from a kindling eye, a wet cheek,
and a choked utterance, than from all the noise of Christendom.”—Bliss, page 282. – {GC
396.2}
In the days of the Reformation its enemies charged all the evils of fanaticism upon the very ones
who were laboring most earnestly against it. A similar course was pursued by the opposers of the
advent movement. And not content with misrepresenting and exaggerating the errors of
extremists and fanatics, they circulated unfavorable reports that had not the slightest semblance
of truth. These persons were actuated by prejudice and hatred. Their peace was disturbed by the
proclamation of Christ at the door. They feared it might be true, yet hoped it was not, and this
was the secret of their warfare against Adventists and their faith. – {GC 397.1}

“Take heed, therefore, how ye hear” (Luke 8:18), is an admonition of Christ. We are to hear for
the sake of learning the truth, that we may walk in it. And again: “Take heed what ye hear”
(Mark 4:24). Examine closely, “prove all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), “believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world” (1 John 4:1). This is the counsel of God; shall we heed it?—Letter 12, 1890. – {2SM
79.2}

“Take heed, therefore, how ye hear” (Luke 8:18), is an admonition of Christ. We are to hear for
the sake of learning the truth, that we may walk in it. And again: “Take heed what ye hear”
(Mark 4:24). Examine closely, “prove all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), “believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world” (1 John 4:1). This is the counsel of God; shall we heed it?—Letter 12, 1890. – {2SM
79.2}

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1. – {CC 358.1}
As the years went by and the number of believers grew, John labored with increasing fidelity and
earnestness for his brethren. The times were full of peril for the church. Satanic delusions existed
everywhere. By misrepresentation and falsehood the emissaries of Satan sought to arouse
opposition against the doctrines of Christ, and in consequence dissensions and heresies were
imperiling the church.... Thus many were being led into the mazes of skepticism and delusion. –
{CC 358.2}
John was filled with sadness as he saw these poisonous errors creeping into the church. He saw
the dangers to which the church was exposed, and he met the emergency with promptness and
decision. The epistles of John breathe the spirit of love. It seems as if he wrote with a pen dipped
in love. But when he came in contact with those who were breaking the law of God, yet claiming
that they were living without sin, he did not hesitate to warn them of their fearful deception.... –
{CC 358.3}
We are authorized to hold in the same estimation as did the beloved disciple those who claim to
abide in Christ while living in transgression of God’s law. There exist in these last days evils
similar to those that threatened the prosperity of the early church; and the teachings of the apostle
John on these points should be carefully heeded.... While we are to love the souls for whom
Christ died, we are to make no compromise with evil. We are not to unite with the rebellious and
call this charity. God requires His people in this age of the world to stand for the right as
unflinchingly as did John in opposition to soul-destroying errors.... – {CC 358.4}
He declared what he knew, what he had seen and heard.... Out of the abundance of a heart
overflowing with love for the Saviour he spoke; and no power could stay his words.... – {CC
358.5}
So may every true believer be able, through his own experience, to “set to his seal that God is
true” (John 3:33). He can bear witness to that which he has seen and heard and felt of the power
of Christ. [34] – {CC 358.6}

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1. – {Mar 166.1}
Many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is a merely human imposture; when
brought face to face with manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will
be deceived, and will be led to accept them as the great power of God. – {Mar 166.2}
As the teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the restraint imposed upon the
carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest
iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of
devils, and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches. – {Mar 166.3}
The popular ministry cannot successfully resist spiritualism. They have nothing wherewith to
shield their flocks from its baleful influence. Much of the sad result of spiritualism will rest upon
ministers of this age; for they have trampled the truth under their feet, and in its stead have
preferred fables. – {Mar 166.4}
Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. The foundation of his
work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden: “Ye shall not surely die.” “In the day ye
eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:4, 5. Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the
development of spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs; but
it will be reached in the last remnant of time. Says the prophet: “I saw three unclean spirits like
frogs....They are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the
earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
Revelation 16:13, 14. Except those who are kept by the power of God, through faith in His word,
the whole world will be swept into the ranks of this delusion. The people are fast being lulled to
a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God. – {Mar 166.5}

The Spirit of God will lead us in the path of the commandments; for the promise is that “when
he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” We should try the spirits by the
test of God’s Word; for there are many spirits in the world. “To the law and to the testimony: if
they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” ... – {RC 52.2}
God holds every one of us to an individual accountability, and calls upon us to serve Him from
principle, to choose Him for ourselves.... – {RC 52.3}
God will not lightly esteem the transgression of His law. “The wages of sin is death.” The
consequences of disobedience prove that the nature of sin is at enmity with the well-being of
God’s government and the good of His creatures. God is a jealous God, visiting the sins of the
fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of them that hate Him. The results of
transgression follow those who persist in wrongdoing; but He shows mercy unto thousands of
them that love Him and keep His commandments. Those who repent and turn to His service find
the favor of the Lord; and He forgiveth all their iniquities and healeth all their diseases. – {RC
52.4}
In earthly affairs, the servant who seeks most carefully to fulfill the requirements of his office,
and to carry out the will of his master, is most highly valued. A gentleman once wished to
employ a trusty coachman. Several men came in answer to his advertisement. He asked each one
how near he could drive to the edge of a certain precipice without upsetting the carriage. One and
another replied that he could go within a perilous distance; but at last one answered that he
would keep as far as possible from such a dangerous undertaking. He was employed to fill the
position. – {RC 52.5}
Shall a man be more appreciative of a good servant than is our heavenly Father? Our anxiety
should not be to see how far we can depart from the commandments of the Lord, and presume on
the mercy of the Lawgiver, and still flatter our souls that we are within the bounds of God’s
forbearance; but our care should be to keep as far as possible from transgression. We should be
determined to be on the side of Christ and our heavenly Father, and run no risks by heady
presumption.... – {RC 52.6}
We should magnify the precepts of heaven by our words and actions. He who honors the law will
be honored by it in the judgment.—The Review and Herald, June 22, 1911. – {RC 52.7}

There are many professors of religion who claim to be servants of God, and yet are filled with
spiritual pride and self-exaltation. They make high pretensions to holiness, and feel that they are
“rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” They are like the fig tree which put
forth its boastful foliage, but when the Master came seeking fruit upon it, he found nothing but
leaves. They are ever ready to advance their opinions, to display their attainments, and to
interpret the meaning of the word of God. They claim to be led by the Spirit, but they turn away
their ear from hearing the law of God. Says the psalmist, “Thy law is the truth,” and “all thy
commandments are righteousness.” The Spirit of God will lead us in the path of the
commandments; for the promise is, that “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you
into all truth.” We should try the spirits by the test of God’s word; for there are many spirits in
the world. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them.” – {RH January 31, 1888 Par. 1}
Some of these false teachers occupy prominent positions in the churches, and they influence
others to swerve from the path of humble obedience. God holds every one of us to an individual
accountability, and calls upon us to serve him from principle, to choose him for ourselves. We
should not hang our souls upon the words and actions of another; for Satan uses men as his
agents, and clothes his ministers in garments of light. Not one of us can pardon the sins of any
other. In the day of Judgment, when the question comes to you as to why you did not obey the
commandments of God, you cannot make an acceptable excuse on the plea of another’s
disobedience. If your words and example have led others in the path of sin, you alone must bear
the responsibility of your actions and influence. Because a man who professes to love God,
disobeys the plain word of instruction, you will not be justified in neglect of duty. We should
every one ask, How shall I keep the commandments of our God? – {RH January 31, 1888 Par. 2}
God will not lightly esteem the transgression of his law. “The wages of sin is death.” The
consequences of disobedience prove that the nature of sin is at enmity with the well-being of
God’s government and the good of his creatures. God is a jealous God, visiting the sins of the
fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of them that hate him: the results of
transgression follow those who persist in wrong-doing; but he shows mercy unto thousands of
them that love him and keep his commandments. Those who repent and turn to his service find
the favor of the Lord, and he forgiveth all their iniquities and healeth all their diseases. – {RH
January 31, 1888 Par. 3}
In earthly affairs, the servant who seeks most carefully to fulfill the requirements of his office,
and to carry out the will of his master, is most highly valued. A gentleman once wanted to
employ a trusty coachman. Several men came in answer to his advertisement. He asked each one
how near he could drive to the edge of a certain precipice without upsetting the carriage. One and
another replied that he could go within a very perilous distance; but at last one answered that he
would keep as far as possible from such a dangerous undertaking. He was employed to fill the
position. Shall a man be more appreciative of a good servant than is our Heavenly Father? Our
anxiety should not be to see how far we can depart from the commandments of the Lord and
presume on the mercy of the Lawgiver, and still flatter our souls that we are within the bounds of
God’s forbearance; but our care should be to keep as far as possible from transgression. We
should be determined to be on the side of Christ and our Heavenly Father, and run no risks by
heady presumption. – {RH January 31, 1888 Par. 4}
What reason have men for thinking that God is not particular whether they obey him implicitly
or take their own course? Adam and Eve lost Eden for one transgression of his command; and
how dare we trifle with the law of the Most High, and frame deceitful apologies to our souls? We
do it at a terrible peril. We must keep all the law, every jot and tittle; for he that offendeth in one
point is guilty of all. Every ray of light must be received and cherished, or we shall become
bodies of darkness. The Lord Jesus declares, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:
but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
We should magnify the precepts of heaven by our words and actions. He that honors the law
shall be honored by it in the Judgment; but he that treats it with contempt shall be condemned by
it before the Judge of all the earth. – {RH January 31, 1888 Par. 5}

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many
false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every Spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every Spirit that confesseth not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye
have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” – {ST September 3,
1894 Par. 1}
In this age of the world we see every grade and degree of skepticism. There are rank infidels,
those who believe in the lying wonders of Spiritualism, and those who reject the claims of divine
truth. All these are placed among the class that John has written of, and are controlled by the
spirit of antichrist. Ignorance of the character of God, pride of understanding, and the love of sin,
are the source of infidelity. Men deny the divinity of Christ, cast away the Bible, and thus seek to
free themselves from personal accountability to God. They bring the Bible into conflict with
“science, falsely so called.” These doubters can start inquiries which the most humble and pious
Christian would be perplexed to know how to answer. But because their queries cannot be
answered, is no evidence that the Bible is not true. A little child has asked questions in regard to
God, the soul, and the future, that the most learned could not answer. The truth of God’s word
will be revealed to those who are of a lowly heart, who will comprehend its duties and obey its
precepts. It is pride of opinion that leads to skepticism, and to the denial of the divinity of Jesus
Christ. Skepticism has its origin in love of sin, love of ambition, and self-exaltation. – {ST
September 3, 1894 Par. 2}
Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, is the channel through which all our blessings come, and those who
refuse to acknowledge him as the divine Son of God, virtually say, “I will not have this man to
rule over me.” Those who are self-willed, puffed up with pride and self-importance, while they
will not give up their wills to be in harmony with God’s will, yet will accept the delusions of
false prophets, and be led to refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God. Skeptics and
infidels may profess to be doing good work, but they are greatly deceived. They are trampling
upon the blood of the covenant, and counting that which should have sanctified them as an
unholy thing. There are many who have not taken the ground that infidels take, and yet they are
in the first stages of infidelity. They question everything that is of a divine character, seeking to
bring down everything to the level of that which is common and natural. Their minds are like a
sponge, and absorb every suggestion of unbelief. They pass these suggestions to others, and thus
sow the seeds of skepticism, and what they sow they will reap. When a believer seeks to answer
one question started by a skeptic, he will propound another and another. The only way to do is to
let skeptics alone until they truly desire light. Let those who engage in controversy with these
wily opponents remember that they are not meeting men, not wrestling “against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.” The confederacy of evil is seeking to poison human minds
with error, and obscure the light of truth. – {ST September 3, 1894 Par. 3}
Skeptics think that they can mingle their darkness with light, and thus confuse the believer in the
Bible. It is not because they have so great a depth of reasoning that they do not believe, but
because they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and power of God. The truth of God will be
assailed by the cavils of infidelity. It is considered a special proof of intellectual greatness to be
bold in denying the divinity of Christ; but this is not a proof of intellectual greatness, but is an
evidence that the mind is bound about with earthliness so that it does not comprehend spiritual
truth. God does not require men to believe the Scriptures without giving them abundant evidence
of their truth, and the evidences of Christianity would overwhelm the most gifted man who
diligently sought for truth, and was willing to consecrate himself to its promulgation. Those who
do accept the evidences of God’s word will have an experience that will be as a barrier against
infidelity, for they will be translated out of darkness into the precious light of faith, hope, and
assurance. The converted soul can say, I needed help, and I found that help in Jesus. He has met
every want, satisfied the hungering of my soul, and the Bible to me is the revelation of Jesus
Christ. He can say to the infidel, “You ask me why I believe in Jesus? and I answer, Because he
is to me a divine Saviour. The Bible to me is the voice of God. I have the witness in myself that
the word of God is true, and that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God. I am following no
cunningly devised fable.” – {ST September 3, 1894 Par. 4}
When men pour contempt upon Christianity, tell them what you know by experience. The beings
of the celestial world are amazed when those whom Christ has purchased with his own blood,
whom God has invited with the voice of mercy, turn into a jest the messages of the gospel, and
deny the divinity of their Redeemer. They are building upon a sandy foundation, with threads
and fragments of human reasoning, but their theories will vanish like dew when the glory of the
Lord is revealed. Believers do not claim that every question and objection which Satan can
invent and instill into the minds of men can be answered in so many words. Men will be given
sufficient evidence on which to found their faith; but if they are determined to doubt, they will
stumble on the dark mountains of unbelief. They will show that they have never submitted their
proud hearts to Jesus Christ, and make an excuse for not doing so the fact that with their finite
minds they cannot solve all the difficulties which they imagine are in the Bible. – {ST September
3, 1894 Par. 5}
Spiritualism is a dangerous phase of infidelity, and we should not go into the assemblies of
Spiritualists prompted by motives of curiosity. In so doing we are placing ourselves on Satan’s
ground, and cannot expect help from God unless he has a work for us to do to speak some
message to those who are ignorant and deceived, and immediately leave the assembly. “They are
of the world; therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” The erroneous
doctrine that the soul is immortal is almost universally received by the world, and the belief that
the dead go immediately to heaven gives Spiritualism a deep hold upon the people. Believing
this doctrine men have nothing with which to shield themselves from the errors of Spiritualism.
Through evil spirits they receive communications, and accept them as messages from their lost
loved ones. Satan and his agents personate their dead friends, and thus impart to them Satanic
delusions. But God has given us a rule whereby to test what is truth. The prophet says: “To the
law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light
in them.” “He that is of God heareth God’s word.” “We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth
us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of
error.” “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or
spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the
Lord. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because
many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit
that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth
not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” – {ST
September 3, 1894 Par. 6}

The next verse opens with this warning: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Let us
consider the moral law, which was specified by the loved disciple as the “old commandment
which ye had from the beginning,” which was spoken from Mount Sinai amid smoke and flame,
thunder and earthquake. The commandments are: – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 3}
“I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 4}
“II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not
bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate
me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. –
{ST October 15, 1894 Par. 5}
“III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him
guiltless that taketh his name in vain. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 6}
“IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou,
nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all
that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and
hallowed it. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 7}
“V. Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 8}
“VI. Thou shalt not kill. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 9}
“VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 10}
“VIII. Thou shalt not steal. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 11}
“IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 12}
“X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his
manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.” –
{ST October 15, 1894 Par. 13}
If this code of morals had been respected and obeyed, the world would not now be in the state in
which it is,—corrupted under the inhabitants thereof. If human agents had cooperated with God,
and had obeyed the laws which lie at the foundation of his government, we should not see and
hear so much concerning iniquity and crime, suffering and death. Christ magnified the law, and
made it honorable. He saw the necessity of expounding the law which he himself had spoken
amid flame and thunder and tempest. The rabbis had heaped the rubbish of their traditions upon
the law, and made of no effect the commandments of God, because they taught as doctrines the
commandments of men. He showed the people that the law of God penetrated to the motives of
the heart, and the lover of self was a transgressor of the law. He rescued the commandments
from their companionship with error, and placed them in the framework of the gospel, and
presented them to men in their true significance and importance; and to those who listened the
law seemed a new revelation. Far from taking anything from the sacredness of a single precept,
he revealed to men the exalted character of the whole law. But because he cleansed from the law
the rubbish of tradition, and freed it from the exactions of men, and from the multitude of minute
requirements of men, that confused the people, and hindered them from seeing the real
significance of the requirements of Jehovah, the Pharisees were saying in their hearts that Christ
had come to do away with the law. But while they were musing in their hearts, he spoke words
that revealed to them the fact that he read their thoughts as an open book: – {ST October 15,
1894 Par. 14}
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven;
but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” – {ST October 15, 1894
Par. 15}
Christ then proceeds to show that the commandments are exceeding broad, and penetrate to the
very motives that control the heart. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 16}
The great adversary, the first rebel and apostate, makes war on the commandments of God, for
“by the law is the knowledge of sin.” This is the reason that he would have the world believe that
the law of God is not binding, for then he can keep men in ignorance of the fact that they are
sinners and in need of a Saviour. In this way he can lead them to reject the great salvation, that
has been purchased for them at infinite cost. – {ST October 15, 1894 Par. 17}

We cannot engage in a faction against those whom God made choice of to introduce the last
message to the world.... If the visions are not of God, they will surely come to nought; and we
pray God to hasten the day. But we have not been able to discover anything in them which
conflicts with the commandments of God—the law and the testimony—which are the test given
us by inspiration, by which to try the spirits. Therefore we see no danger from them.—The
Review and Herald, December 18, 1855. – {1BIO 332.2}
Ellen White commented on Cottrell’s article: What a nice piece Brother Roswell wrote! It hit the
nail on the head; it will do much good.—Letter 9, 1856. – {1BIO 332.3}
The publication of the main features of the vision of November 20 came about like this: Ellen
White wrote it out immediately and on Sabbath evening read it to the Battle Creek church. The
church in turn voted unanimously that it should be published and made available to the entire
body of believers. It was set in type and printed as one article in a two-page sheet, some of the
topics being—as given headings in an 1885 reprinting—“Thy Brother’s Keeper,” “Time to
Begin the Sabbath,” “Opposers of the Truth,” and “Prepare to Meet the Lord.” – {1BIO 332.4}
The manner in which this little document was looked upon by leading men in the developing
church is revealed in a small-type note at its close: – {1BIO 332.5}
We, the undersigned, being eyewitnesses when the above vision was given, deem it highly
necessary that it should be published, for the benefit of the church, on account of the important
truths and warnings which it contains. – {1BIO 332.6}
(Signed)
M. E. Cornell Jos. Bates
J. H. Waggoner J. Hart
G. W. Amadon Uriah Smith
Shortly afterward, the material, along with a vision given May 5, 1855, was published in a
sixteen-page pamphlet. Although not numbered, it turned out to be Testimony No. 1. – {1BIO
333.1}