AC 3900 - Creating a Desert

AC 3900 [8]

. . . people whose worship is outwardly holy
but inwardly profane
owing to the introduction of novelties
which have as their end in view
pre-eminence over all others
and becoming wealthier than all others
set aside the Word.
Indeed they go so far as not to allow others to read it.
And even in the case of those
whose worship is not profane as just described
and who do regard the Word to be holy
and do allow it a place among ordinary people,
they nevertheless bend and explain everything
in accordance with their own teachings.
And this turns the rest of the Word
which does not accord with their own teachings
into a "desert" . . ..