Extracts by H. C. Miller

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1866

Extracts.

By H. C. Miller

Bro. White: I send you the following extracts, which you may use as you think best.

"That is but a melancholy religion, and a poor philosophy, which directs man to his own natural strength. Past ages have made trial of that strength, and while, in earthly things, man has attained admirable excellence, he has never been able to dissipate the darkness which hides God from his soul, or to change a single inclination to evil. The highest attainment in wisdom of the most aspiring minds, or of the souls most eager after perfection, has been to despair of themselves. It is, therefore, a generous, consoling, and supremely true doctrine, which discovers to us our impotence, that it may declare a power—of God—by which we can do all things; and that is a noble Reformation which vindicates on earth the glory of Heaven, and pleads before man the rights of the mighty God."—D'Aubigne.

"In all ages it has been seen how great is the power of any prominent idea to work upon the inert mass of mankind, to rouse the spirit of a nation, and to urge its votaries by thousands, if need be, on to the field of battle, and into the very jaws of death. But if an idea whose origin is earthly has a potency so great, what limit shall we set to the power of one communicated from above, when God himself has opened men's hearts to receive it? Not often, in the world's history indeed, has such a power been exerted; it was displayed, however, in the infancy of Christianity; at the period of the Reformation it was exhibited again; and it shall be witnessed once more in the latter days."—Ibid.

Luther, in answer to his friend Spalatin's question, "What is the best method of studying the Scripture?" says:

"It is most plain we cannot attain to the understanding of Scripture either by study or by strength of intellect. Therefore your first duty must be to begin with prayer. Entreat the Lord to deign to grant you in his rich mercy rightly to understand his word. There is no other interpreter of the word of God but the author of that word himself; even as he has said, 'They shall all be taught of God.' Hope nothing from your study, or the strength of your intellect, but simply put your trust in God, and in the guidance of his Spirit. Believe one who has made trial of this method."—Hist. of Ref.

Can we not see in this the secret of Luther's strength and power in wielding that two-edged sword?

H. C. MILLER.

Chicago, Ill.