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phase； and each； under the guidance of the Holy Spirit； presents what is
most forcibly impressed upon his own minda different aspect of the truth
in each； but a perfect harmony through all。 And the truths thus revealed
unite to form a perfect whole； adapted to meet the wants of men in all the
circumstances and experiences of life。
God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human
agencies； and He Himself； by His Holy Spirit； qualified men and enabled them
to do this work。 He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and
what to write。 The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels； yet it is；
nonetheless； from Heaven。 The testimony is
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conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language； yet it is the
testimony of God； and the obedient； believing child of God beholds in it the
glory of a divine power； full of grace and truth。
In His word； God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation。
The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative； infallible
revelation of His will。 They are the standard of character； the revealer of
doctrines； and the test of experience。 〃Every scripture inspired of God is
also profitable for teaching； for reproof； for correction； for instruction
which is in righteousness； that the man of God may be complete； furnished
completely unto every good work。〃 2 Timothy 3：16； 17； R。V。
Yet the fact that God has revealed His will to men through His word； has not
rendered needless the continued presence and guiding of the Holy Spirit。 On
the contrary； the Spirit was promised by our Saviour； to open the word to
His servants； to illuminate and apply its teachings。 And since it was the
Spirit of God that inspired the Bible； it is impossible that the teaching of
the Spirit should ever be contrary to that of the word。
The Spirit was not givennor can it ever be bestowed to supersede the
Bible； for the Scriptures explicitly state that the word of God is the
standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested。 Says the
apostle John； 〃Believe not every spirit； but try the spirits whether they
are of God： because many false prophets are gone out into the world。〃
1 John 4：1。 And Isaiah declares； 〃To the law and to the
testimony： if they speak not according to this word； it is because there is
no light in them。〃 Isaiah 8：20。
Great reproach has been cast upon the work of the Holy Spirit by the errors
of a class that； claiming its enlightenment； profess to have no further need
of guidance from the word of God。 They are governed by impressions which
they regard as the voice of God in the soul。 But the spirit that controls
them is not the Spirit of God。 This following of
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impressions； to the neglect of the Scriptures； can lead only to confusion；
to deception and ruin。 It serves only to further the designs of the evil
one。 Since the ministry of the Holy Spirit is of vital importance to the
church of Christ； it is one of the devices of Satan； through the errors of
extremists and fanatics； to cast contempt upon the work of the Spirit and
cause the people of God to neglect this source of strength which our Lord
Himself has provided。
In harmony with the word of God； His Spirit was to continue its work
throughout the period of the gospel dispensation。 During the ages while the
Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament were being given； the Holy
Spirit did not cease to communicate light to individual minds； apart from
the revelations to be embodied in the Sacred Canon。 The Bible itself relates
how； through the Holy Spirit； men received warning； reproof； counsel； and
instruction； in matters in no way relating to the giving of the Scriptures。
And mention is made of prophets in different ages； of whose utterances
nothing is recorded。 In like manner； after the close of the canon of the
Scripture； the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work； to enlighten；
warn； and comfort the children of God。
Jesus promised His disciples； 〃The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost； whom
the Father will send in My name； He shall teach you all things； and bring
all things to your remembrance； whatsoever I have said unto you。〃 〃When He；
the Spirit of truth； is come； He will guide you into all truth： 。 。 。 and He
will show you things to come。〃 John 14：26； 16：13。 Scripture plainly teaches
that these promises； so far from being limited to apostolic days； extend to
the church of Christ in all ages。 The Saviour assures His followers； 〃I am
with you alway； even unto the end of the world。〃 Matthew 28：20。 And Paul
declares that the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit were set in the
church 〃for the perfecting of the saints； for the work of the ministry； for
the edifying of the body of Christ： till we all come in the unity of the
faith； and
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of the knowledge of the Son of God； unto a perfect man； unto the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ。〃 Ephesians 4：12； 13。
For the believers at Ephesus the apostle prayed； 〃That the God of our Lord
Jesus Christ； the Father of glory； may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of Him： the eyes of your understanding being
enlightened； that ye may know what is the hope of His calling； and 。 。 。
what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe。〃
Ephesians 1：17…19。 The ministry of the divine Spirit in enlightening the
understanding and opening to the mind the deep things of God's holy word；
was the blessing which Paul thus besought for the Ephesian church。
After the wonderful manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the Day of
Pentecost； Peter exhorted the people to repentance and baptism in the name
of Christ； for the remission of their sins； and he said： 〃Ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost。 For the promise is unto you； and to your
children； and to all that are afar off； even as many as the Lord our God
shall call。〃 Acts 2：38； 39。
In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God； the Lord by
the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit。 Joel
2：28。 This prophecy received a partial fulfillment in the outpouring of the
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost； but it will reach its full accomplishment in
the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the
gospel。
The great controversy between good and evil will increase in intensity to
the very close of time。 In all ages the wrath of Satan has been manifested
against the church of Christ； and God has bestowed His grace and Spirit upon
His people to strengthen them to stand against the power of the evil one。
When the apostles of Christ were to bear His gospel to the world and to
record it for all future ages； they were especially endowed with the
enlightenment of the Spirit。 But as the
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church approaches her final deliverance； Satan is to work with greater
power。 He comes down 〃having great wrath； because he knoweth that he hath
but a short time。〃 Revelation 12：12。 He will work 〃with a