to maintain the Bible, and the
Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all
reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the
creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant
as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority,--not
one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any
point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we
should demand a plain "Thus saith the Lord" in its support.

Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man in the place
of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors, to professors
of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the Scriptures to learn
their duty for themselves. Then, by controlling the minds of these
leaders, he can influence the multitudes according to his will.

When Christ came to speak the words of life, the common people heard Him
gladly; and many, even of the priests and rulers, believed on Him. But the
chief of the priesthood and the leading men of the nation were determined
to condemn and repudiate His teachings. Though they were baffled in all
their efforts to find accusations against Him, though they could not but
feel the influence of the divine power and wisdom attending His words, yet
they encased themselves in prejudice; they rejected the clearest evidence
of His Messiahship, lest they should be forced to become His disciples.
These opponents of Jesus were men whom the people had been taught from
infancy to reverence, to whose authority they had been accustomed
implicitly to bow. "How is it," they asked, "that our rulers and learned
scribes do not believe on Jesus? Would not these pious men receive Him if
He were the Christ?" It was the influence of such teachers that led the
Jewish nation to reject their Redeemer.

The spirit which actuated those priests and rulers is still manifested by
many who make a high profession of piety. They refuse to examine the
testimony of the Scriptures concerning the special truths for this time.
They point to their own numbers, wealth, and popularity, and look with
contempt upon the advocates of truth as few, poor, and unpopular, having a
faith that separates them from the world.

Christ foresaw that the undue assumption of authority indulged by the
scribes and Pharisees would not cease with the dispersion of the Jews. He
had a prophetic view of the work of exalting human aut