THE SIN OF BELIEVING by H. F. PHELPS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 21, 1871

THE SIN OF BELIEVING.

By H. F. PHELPS

Having shown the sin of unbelief, let us see if there is not also an error in believing. But charity “believeth all things;” yes, all things that are spoken by the inspiration of God’s Spirit. But nowadays there are many, very many, things spoken by inspiration. Yes; but by the inspiration of the “father of lies,” who is “transformed into an angel of light,” and would make us think he is the best friend we have; but the end is death. See how he deceived our first parents in the garden of Eden, and through them, all the human family. He promised them life of greater enjoyment, if they would only yield to the clamors of appetite. Here we see the folly of believing too much.

But there are some things which more nearly concern us in our every-day life. Even this very day, some agent of this great deceiver may have been tempting you with a sweet morsel in the form of a bit of scandal against some neighbor. Of course, the tattler would not be willing to vouch for the truth of said report; but “they say so,” and he may have even whispered, “I hardly believe it;” but yet the very act of telling it shows that it was believed, or at least they could almost wish it were so. And so it goes from one mouth to another; many persons no doubt, would wish it were so rather than to be found telling things that were not true; in other words, acknowledging that they were found “taking up a reproach against their neighbor.” How many of this class will the Judgment day reveal! and how many of those, about whom the world love to talk, come off far better than those who love so well to do the talking! Will they love to talk as well then? I think not. “Every mouth shall be stopped.” Who would not shun this class?

H. F. PHELPS.