Facts for the Times by C. H. Bliss

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 12, 1872

Facts for the Times.

By C. H. Bliss

THE SPIRIT AS OUR GUIDE.

The following remarks, by L. R. Dunn, under the heading, “The Comforter as a leader and Guide,” shows the folly of those who are guided only by impressions: it is from the Advocate.

There are but two spirits in the world which lead and control men’s minds,—the Spirit of light and the spirit of darkness; the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error; the Spirit of God and the spirit of the Devil. These are in direct and eternal antagonism. They can never coalesce, nor co-exist. Satan, it is true, may appear as an “angel of light;” but he is no less a devil under this garb than in his own thunder-scarred deformity. Error may put on the garb of truth, but it is error still. When, therefore, the Spirit of God leads a man, he leads him to do right, to do good, to believe the truth and embrace it. The promise is emphatic, “He shall guide you into all the truth,”—not into error, not into folly, not into sin.

The spirit of God never leads a man to believe any thing contrary to the word of God, nor to do any thing contrary to its teachings. It is right here that we have an all-sufficient check against error and fanaticism. If any person thinks or feels that he is led by the Spirit of God, he is to test his impressions by the truths of God’s word. If the convictions, impressions, or inclinations of his mind and heart are in accordance with the eternal truths of that word, then he may safely follow them, and properly conclude that the Spirit of the Lord is leading and guiding him aright. But if they are not in harmony with the word, then the sooner he gets rid of them, the better it will be for himself and for all concerned; God has given his intelligent creatures powers of reason, of judgment, of understanding, of analysis and synthesis.

These are to be brought into exercise in reading the word of God, in humble reliance in the promised aid of the divine Spirit. Given, then, the word of God in our hands, the Spirit of God in our hearts, and our God-given reason duly enthroned in our minds, and no man need to or will go far astray. But any one who relies upon mere impressions will go astray into the wildest fancies, the grossest irregularities or the most mortifying blunders.

With these thoughts before us, what shall we think of those who disregard the fourth commandment on account of certain impressions? Are they not guided by the spirit of the Devil? “He will guide you into all truth” John. 16: 13. “Thy law is the truth.” Ps. 119, 142. C. H. Bliss.