TRUTH IS HARMONIOUS by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 2, 1869

TRUTH IS HARMONIOUS.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

A LOGICAL mind delights in the harmony of its views. It decides of a tree by the fruit which it bears. Men do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles. A good tree cannot bear evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

If a miracle is wrought in confirmation of that which is truth, it is the work of the Spirit of truth; but if it is wrought in defense of error, the spirit by which it is wrought, is evil.

If in the defense of Spiritualism or Mormonism you had the gift of tongues or of healing, it was given by that spirit that upholds these isms, that is, the spirit of the father of lies. God cannot work a miracle to confirm a lie. But if gifts are given, and miracles wrought, in confirmation of truth, it is done by the Spirit of truth, which is the Spirit of God. Satan would not, or, if he would, could not, work a miracle in confirmation of the truth. God, whose power is greater than his, will not permit him to do it. And those ecstacies that tend to confirm one in error, are from the spirit of error, and not from the Spirit of truth.

Make the tree good, and its fruit good, or the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for a tree is known by its fruit. If spiritual gifts are given and exercised in confirmation of Bible truth, it is impossible that their manifestation should be from an evil spirit. It can only proceed from the Spirit of God. But all such manifestations, given in support of error can proceed from no other spirit than that which is opposed to God and truth.

Let us have consistency and harmony in our faith. Truly logical minds must have this. The mind of Jesus was such. Speaking on this very subject of spiritual power, he said, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by his fruit.” Matt. xii, 33. Brethren, let us cultivate clearness of mind, and come to truly logical conclusions.

R. F. COTTRĚLL.