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THE TWO COUNSELORS

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 12, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 22.

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THE TWO COUNSELORS.

By Helen M. Kilgoore

Satan. I hear you are feeling somewhat sad this morning, and I have come to give you a little good advice, which I hope you will be wise enough to heed. It has been some time since you made up your mind to become a Christian. You have learned something of the difficulties in the way, and now you see plainly, that it is impossible for you to lead a Christian life; for it is written, “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” 1 Pet. i, 15. Now you know that your disposition is such, that you often say things which you ought not, even when you are trying to guard against it. You will never be able to overcome this, and you may as well give up now; for, “Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.” Heb. xii, 14.
The word of God. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins.” “Abide in him.” 1 John ii, 1, 2, 28.
Satan. “He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself so to walk, even as he walked.” “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” 1 John ii, 6; 1 Pet. ii, 22. You sin every day; how, then, can you walk as Christ did?
Word of God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” 1 John i, 9; Isa. lix, 1.
Satan. But, you live so far from God that he will not hear you.
Word of God. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Ps. cxlv, 18.
Satan. Yes, he is nigh to them that call upon him in truth; but, perhaps you are not sincere after all; and unless you are sure that you are, you had better not call upon him.
Word of God. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” John vi, 37; Matt. vii, 7; Ps. cxlv, 8.
Satan. It is written, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” Rom. v, 1. Now, if you have faith, why need you be so particular about works? “Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.” Rom. iv, 9.
Word of God. “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only; for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” “These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” James ii, 20–26; Titus iii, 8.
Satan. You have some pretty severe trials; why does the Lord permit this?
Word of God. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. i, 7.
Satan. But you have so many temptations; you will certainly fall.
Word of God. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. x, 13.
Satan. If you try to overcome your sins, and think you have succeeded, God is so perfect a being, that he will see sins in you that you are not aware of. How, then, can you hope to be saved?
Word of God. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” “For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. iv, 15; ii, 18.
Satan. Well, if you must serve the Lord, why not serve him as other people do? You were once a member of a church, where all your neighbors respected you; but they do not respect you now; you will never be thought anything of again.
Word of God. “Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” “Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Isa. li, 7; lxvi, 5.
Satan. Then, here is another thing. If you do not keep the day other people do for the Sabbath, you will be able to work only five days in a week, and will be cut off from many kinds of business altogether. Now, how are you going to feed, and clothe, your large family?
Word of God. “Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. vi, 26, 28–30, 33.
Satan. How do you know but the church you left is right, after all? You acknowledge that there are good, pious people among them. There is Rev. Mr. A. He is a good man, and one who has been the means of leading many sinners to seek the Lord. Rev. Mr. B., and many others, that I could mention, are men of good understanding, and they utterly reject this doctrine of yours. How do you know but they have got the true light instead of you?
Word of God. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. viii, 20.
Satan. Well, doctrine has nothing to do with your salvation. “It is not the doctrine that is going to save anybody.”
Word of God. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” “For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.” 1 Tim. iv, 16; Prov. iv, 2.
Satan. It seems to me that this is a peculiar kind of teaching.
Word of God. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Tim. vi, 3–5.
Satan. Well, perhaps this is the right way; but why not mingle a little more with the world’s people, and participate in their amusements once in a while? Perhaps by so doing you might destroy their prejudice, and lead them into the truth.
Word of God. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Pet. v, 8.
Satan. Why need you spend so much time studying the Scriptures? You really cannot afford it. If any one wishes to know why you believe these things, send them to the minister. It is his business to explain them; and he can do it better than you.
Word of God. “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” “But be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” John v, 39; 1 Pet. iii, 15.
Satan. You have to work hard, and sometimes get very tired; now if you happen to neglect prayer once in a while, what difference can it make? The Lord knows what you need, better than you can tell him.
Word of God. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” Eph. vi, 11.
Satan. I cannot stop to talk any longer now, but I will call some other time, when you are better prepared to listen to reason.
Word of God. “Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.” “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children; for blessed are they that keep my ways.”“I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” “Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” James iv, 7; Prov. xix, 21; viii, 32; Isa. xlviii, 17; Prov. i, 33.
Reader, which shall be the man of your counsel?
HELEN M. KILGOORE.
South Nortidgewock, Me.