p. 196 | Try the Spirits by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 17, 1864

"Try the Spirits."

By R. F. Cottrell

THAT spirit that told you that you might disobey the word of the Most High is not of God. You had no right to mock God by asking him whether it was your duty to obey that which is clearly enjoined in his word; and it is no wonder that the Spirit was grieved and holy angels turned away, and suffered Satan to "bless" you, in answer to your impious prayer, and tell you to go in peace, and continue in the transgression of the word of God.

Do you say that your course, though not in harmony with the letter of God's requirements, is still acceptable to him? that he owns and blesses you, giving you his Spirit as a witness, which he would not do if you were wrong, and therefore you must be right? Let me tell you that you have reversed the order of things laid down by an apostle. Says John, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 Jno. iii, 22. But you reverse this and say that you know you are right in breaking his commandments, because he hears your prayer and gives you his Spirit. It is in connection with the above that the apostle says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God." You will find no surer way to detect a lying spirit than to test them by the word of the Lord. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. viii, 20.

R. F. Cottrell.