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The Present Truth

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 24, 1859

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 13, No. 18.

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The Present Truth.

By J. Clarke

“His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” “Sanctify them through thy truth.”
At the present time the religious world is full of conflicting opinions, and when a person is persuaded to leave the fallen Babylon with her mixture of opinions and dogmas, it very often happens that he brings along with him a full load of what he considers valuable luggage.
This indispensable satchel of Babylonish lore is carefully preserved and cared for, until he gets the eye-salve, which by its wonderful efficacy reveals to him the true character of the petted bundle; then he parts from it with joy.
But there are those who, having a good deal of self-confidence, and who perhaps have not fully investigated the present truth, and not fully comprehending the vast range which error has had for 6000 years, not considering the comprehensiveness of the words, Babylon is fallen, Come out of her, &c., not fully realizing the depth of ecclesiastical depravity to which the visible church has sunk, such an individual, I say, not realizing these things, is in danger of neglecting the urgent duty of investigation, and is in great danger of settling down upon a partial reform, which is often worse than no reform at all.
Thus, A. embraces the Third Angel's Message, but he has got some favorite ideas which he will graft upon it, and he comes in to teach those of greater experience and more knowledge.
B. thinks that the views are generally correct, but that too much stress is laid upon the use of tobacco.
C. holds that the saints will be overcome, so far as to be imprisoned and killed, in the coming struggle.
D. does not see how the remission of sin differs from the blotting out of sin.
E. thinks that the brethren are a little too severe upon our rich members, and so on to the end of the chapter.
Now I would recommend that we all, without an exception, study to know the whole truth, and leave Babylon behind. J. CLARKE.