social,
the effect is the same; the opposers of truth exert their power to control
the conscience, and the souls held under their sway have not sufficient
courage or independence to obey their own convictions of duty.

The truth and the glory of God are inseparable; it is impossible for us,
with the Bible within our reach, to honor God by erroneous opinions. Many
claim that it matters not what one believes, if his life is only right.
But the life is moulded by the faith. If light and truth is within our
reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it,
we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather than light.

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the
ways of death."(1031) Ignorance is no excuse for error or sin, when there
is every opportunity to know the will of God. A man is traveling, and
comes to a place where there are several roads, and a guide-board
indicating where each one leads. If he disregards the guide-board, and
takes whichever road seems to him to be right, he may be ever so sincere,
but will in all probability find himself on the wrong road.

God has given us His word that we may become acquainted with its
teachings, and know for ourselves what He requires of us. When the lawyer
came to Jesus with the inquiry, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
the Saviour referred him to the Scriptures, saying, "What is written in
the law? how readest thou?" Ignorance will not excuse young or old, nor
release them from the punishment due for the transgression of God's law;
because there is in their hands a faithful presentation of that law and of
its principles and its claims. It is not enough to have good intentions;
it is not enough to do what a man thinks is right, or what the minister
tells him is right. His soul's salvation is at stake, and he should search
the Scriptures for himself. However strong may be his convictions, however
confident he may be that the minister knows what is truth, this is not his
foundation. He has a chart pointing out every way mark on the heavenward
journey, and he ought not to guess at anything.

It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the
Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light, and encourage
others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible
diligently, weighing every thought, and comparing scripture with
scripture. With divine help, we are to form