We are impressed with these words when we hear men who are trampling on the precepts of Heaven, making the claim that they are sanctified and sinless. They make high professions, but they refuse to search the Scriptures, that they may know what is truth. On one occasion a minister was brought to our notice who claimed that he was sinless. He declared that he was inspired by the Holy Ghost; and yet he would not read a word concerning present truth. He said the Lord taught him, and he had no need to depend on the word of life. He affirmed that the agitation of the Sabbath question was bringing men into bondage, rather than into liberty; and that all he wanted was the freedom of Christ,--the blessed faith of Christ. He professed to be filled with Christ. But could we receive the testimony of this man as truth? What is the language of the True Witness? "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Paul asks, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid."

Disse ord gør indtryk på os når vi hører mennesker træder på Himlens forskrifter, og gør krav på at de er helliggjorte og syndfrie. De gør høje bekendelser, men de nægter at ransage i skrifterne, så de må vide hvad er sandhed. Ved en anledning blev vi opmærksom på at en prædikant hævdede at være syndfri. Han erklærede at være inspireret at Helligånden; og alligevel ville han ikke læse et ord om den nærværende sandhed. Han sagde at Herren underviste ham, og at han ikke havde brug for at sætte lid til livets ord. Han forsikrede at diskussionen om sabbatsspørgsmålet satte mere mennesker i trældoms åg end i frihed; og at alt han manglede var Kristi frihed, Kristi velsignede tro. Han bekendte at blive fyldt med Kristus. Men kunne vi tage imod dette menneskes vidnesbyrd som sandhed? Hvad er det Sande vidnes sprog? "Fordi du siger: "Jeg er rig, jeg har vundet rigdom og trænger ikke til noget", og ikke ved, at netop du er elendig og ynkværdig og fattig og blind og nøgen." "Nej! Til læren og vidnesbyrdet! Således skal visselig de komme til at tale, som nu er uden morgenrøde." Paulus svarer, "Hvad skal vi da sige? skal vi blive i synden, for at nåden kan blive større? Nej, langtfra!"