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
35
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
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
crying for food, for meat in due season.
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It takes those who have trained their minds to war against the truth to
manufacture quibbles. And we are not wise to take them from their hands,
and pass them out to thousands who would never have thought of them had
we not published them to the world. This is what our opponents want to
have done; they want to be brought to notice and to have us publish for
them. This is especially true of some. This is their main object in writing
out their falsehoods and in misrepresenting the truth and the characters of
those who love and advocate the truth. They will die out more speedily
to be left unnoticed, to have their errors and falsehoods treated with silent
contempt. They do not want to be let alone. Opposition is the element that
they love. If it were not for this, they would have but little influence.
The first-day Adventists as a class are the most difficult to reach. They
generally reject the truth, as did the Jews. We should, as far as possible,
go forward as though there were not such a people in existence. They are
the elements of confusion, and immoralities exist among them to a fearful
extent. It would be the greatest calamity to have many of their number
embrace the truth. They would have to unlearn everything and learn anew,
or they would cause us great trouble. There are occasions where their
glaring misrepresentations will have to be met. When this is the case, it
should be done promptly and briefly, and we should then pass on to our
work. The plan of Christ’s teaching should be ours. He was plain and
simple, striking directly at the root of the matter, and the minds of all were
met.
It is not the best policy to be so very explicit and say all upon a point
that can be said, when a few arguments will cover the ground and be
sufficient for all practical purposes to convince or silence opponents. You
may remove every prop today and close the mouths of objectors so that
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
they can say nothing, and tomorrow they will go over the same ground
again. Thus it will be, over and over, because they do not love the light and
will not come to the light, lest their darkness and error should be removed
