SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES by H. C. MILLER

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 27, 1868

“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.”

By H. C. MILLER

One peculiarity of the beauties of Scripture doctrine over the teachings of infidelity is that in tearing away old, rotten structures, or in commanding the giving up of long-established forms, customs, habits, and usages, it always seeks to establish a better in their place. Thus, when we are told to “be not conformed to this world,” it is immediately added, as pointing to the better, “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Rom. xii, 2. And it always points out the sure road to the end sought. Now as all conforming to the world is to be avoided, and as all the example and doctrines of the world are useless and utterly incompetent in the transforming work, it is well that we understand, and diligently make use of, those means which are adapted to the work of renewing the mind.

Now we will suppose ourselves ignorant of the science of astronomy, anatomy, or any other branch of knowledge, and our minds conformed to the superstitions of the ignorant, and wishing to be transformed into the freedom of the learned. It is plain that our minds can be renewed only by diligent study of sound works on those branches in regard to which we wish to be informed.

So in being transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is the will of God, we must diligently study the word of God which contains the revelation of his will. Now, why we are so “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” is because we fail to behold constantly, and so become changed. How we grew in grace and in the knowledge of God when we first entered upon the study of the principles of the doctrines of Christ. The reason we are so poverty-stricken, so barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of God, is found in our neglect to make faithful use of the means provided, and of which the constant reading of the Bible is not the least important; for how can our minds be renewed, and we know how to act at all times unless we diligently study the rules by which we are to perform. Children at school do not succeed in performing examples in mathematics until the rule by which they are to work, is memorized. So the apostle, after commanding us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, follows it with some of the rules with which we are to renew our minds, and by which we are to work to be transformed. It was this, perhaps, in the mind of the apostle which led him to speak as follows: “Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrines of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of [for] repentance from dead works,” &c. And our Lord in his prayer to the Father for us shows how this “perfection” is to be reached: “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” John xvii, 17. “Now ye are clean [transformed] through the word which I have spoken unto you.” xv, 3.

Conversing with many brethren, the invariable complaint is, old sins to be repented of, leanness, darkness of mind, &c. And I almost invariably find that reading the word of God is with them only occasionally performed, if at all. Here, then, is the secret of the effect, the cause of it all. What a scholar would he be who seldom, or never, studied his books? Paul says, “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,” and then he lays down in the following verse rules by which to work. Our duty is to memorize them so that we shall know how to work, and not at random, nor uncertainly.

The Bible, brethren, the Bible! let it be the man of our counsel, then we shall not need to be inquiring so much of each other, What is the will of God? What ought I to do in this case or that? The Devil is wiser here than we, and well he knows our great need of this “sword of the spirit, which is the word of God,” and his efforts are constant to get us to leave this our defense behind when we go out to fight him. What! do we expect to cope with our enemy, he clad in armor and armed capapie, and we without any sword? He knows our needs, and his arts to deceive us are many.

Happening to take up “Life of Trust,” by Muller, my eyes rested on words something like these: “And here I fell into the error Satan leads many a young convert to commit—that of substituting lives of good men, biographies of Christians, and such like religious reading in the place of the Bible.” The words made a deep impression upon my mind, because I remembered how he had led me to commit this very error from my first conversion. Brethren, nothing is able to do the work of a sword but the “Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” therefore let not the REVIEW or the Reformer, or anything, take its place. Put it first, foremost, and longest. Let us drink direct from the fountain where others drink, rather than always through other men’s mouths. “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life.” “These were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they * * searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

And, my young brother and sister, the Lord is testifying that herein we especially lack. We love other reading better than the word of God. Let us repent. And of those who have told me that they have failed here, I would inquire if you are bringing forth fruits in this matter meet for repentance?

“Oh! may these heavenly pages be My ever dear delight; And still new beauties may I see, And still increasing light. “Divine Instructor, gracious Lord, Be thou forever near; Teach me to love thy sacred word, And view my Saviour there.” Help me to love the Bible more, And take a fresh delight; To read by day these wonders o’er, And meditate by night.

H. C. MILLER.

Monroe, Wis.