cultivated. The subject before them enchains their attention, and
they are led on and on, and go deeper and deeper into the matter. They see
knowledge and light as they become interested and absorbed. But there are
very few minds that can follow them unless they have given the subject the
same depth of thought. There is danger of such men plowing, and planting
the seed of truth so deep that the tender, precious blade will never find the
surface.
Much hard labor is often expended that is not called for and that will
never be appreciated. If those who have large concentrativeness cultivate
this faculty to the neglect of others, they cannot have well-proportioned
minds. They are like machinery in which only one set of wheels works at
a time. While some wheels are rusting from inaction, others are wearing
from constant use. Men who cultivate one or two faculties, and do not
exercise all equally, cannot accomplish one half the good in the world that
God designed they should. They are one-sided men; only half of the power
that God has given them is put to use, while the other half is rusting with
inaction.
If this class of minds have a special work, requiring thought, they should
not exercise all their powers upon that one thing, to the exclusion of every
other interest. While they make the subject before them their principal
business, other branches of the work should have a portion of their time.
This would be much better for themselves and for the cause generally. One
branch of the work should not have exclusive attention to the neglect of
all others. In their writings some need to be constantly guarded, that they
do not make points blind that are plain, by covering them up with many
arguments which will not be of lively interest to the reader. If they linger
tediously upon points, giving every particular which suggests itself to the
mind, their labor is nearly lost. The interest of the reader will not be deep
enough to pursue the subject to its close. The most essential points of truth
may be made indistinct by giving attention to every minute point. Much
ground is covered; but the work upon which so much labor is
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expended is not calculated to do the greatest amount of good, by awakening
a general interest.
In this age, when pleasing fables are drifting upon the surface and
attracting the mind, truth presented in an easy style, backed up with a few
strong proofs, is better than to search and bring forth an overwhelming array
of evidence; for the point then does not stand so distinct in many minds as
before the objections and evidences were brought before them. With many,
assertions will go further than long arguments. They take many things for
granted. Proof does not help the case in the minds of such.
Opposing Adventists
Our most bitter opponents are found among the first-day Adventists.
They do not engage in the warfare honorably. They will pursue any course,
however unreasonable and inconsistent, to cover up the truth and try to
make it appear that the law of God is of no force. They flatter themselves
that the end will justify the means. Men of their own number, in whom
they had not confidence, will commence a tirade against the Sabbath of
the fourth commandment, and they will give publicity to their statements,
however untrue, unjust, and even ridiculous, if they can make them bear
against the truth which they hate.
We should not be moved or disconcerted by this unjust warfare from
unreasonable men. Those who receive, and are pleased with, what these
men speak and write against the truth are not the ones who would be
convinced of the truth or who would honor the cause of God if they
should accept it. Time and strength can be better employed than to dwell
at length upon the quibbles of our opponents who deal in slander and
misrepresentations. While precious time is employed in following the
crooks and turns of dishonest opponents, the people who are open to
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
conviction are dying for want of knowledge. A train of senseless quibbles
of Satan’s own invention is brought before minds, while the people are
