However much they should ever come to respect prophesyings, or public speaking, the Lord's people should learn proportionately not to receive what they might hear without proper examination and criticism. They should prove all things that they hear, should exercise discrimination of mind, as to what is logically and Scripturally supported, and what is mere conjecture and possibly sophistry. They should prove what they hear with a view to holding fast everything that stands the test of the Divine Word and shows itself to be in accordance with the holy Spirit; and they should as promptly reject whatever will not stand these tests.
Satan has caused the doctrine of the Divine right of the clergy to prevail, claiming for them that they are the Divinely authorized mouthpieces, to whom the people are to render blank and unquestioning credence and obedience. Through this doctrine he has succeeded in deceiving almost the whole world. God does not desire His sons to be under the influence of a doctrine capable of such results. Therefore He bids them carefully to examine all things presented to them for acceptance, and to require that they be harmonious with themselves, Scriptural passages and doctrines, God's character, the Ransom, facts and God's purposes, and to adhere to things only which stand such thorough and reasonable tests.
REPRINTS
Ex. 23:7; Prov. 28:5; Jer. 29:8; Matt. 24:4; John 5:39; 1 Cor. 2:15; 14:29; Phil. 4:8; Heb. 10:23, 24; 2 Pet. 1:15-21; 1 John 4:1-3; Rev. 2:2.
