I saw the state of some who stood on present truth,
but disregarded the visions--the way God had chosen to teach in some cases,
those who erred from Bible truth. I saw that in striking against the visions
they did not strike against the worm--the feeble instrument that God spake
through--but against the Holy Ghost. I saw it was a small thing to speak
against the instrument, but it was dangerous to slight the words of God.
I saw if they were in error and God chose to show them their errors through
visions, and they disregarded the teachings of God through visions, they
would be left to take their own way, and run in the way of error, and think
they were right, until they would find it out too late. Then in the time
of trouble I heard them cry to God in agony, "Why didst Thou not show us
our wrong, that we might have got right and been ready for this time?"
Then an angel pointed to them and said, "My Father taught, but you would
not be taught. He spoke through visions, but you disregarded His voice,
and He gave you up to your own ways, to be filled with your own doings."--Broadside,
To Those Who Are Receiving the Seal of the Living God, Jan. 31, 1849.
A wealth of moral influence has been brought to us
in the last half century. Through His Holy Spirit the voice of God has
come to us continually in warning and instruction, to confirm the faith
of the believers in the Spirit of prophecy. Repeatedly the word has come,
Write the things that I have given you to confirm the faith of My people
in the position they have taken. Time and trial have not made void the
instruction given, but through years of suffering and self-sacrifice have
established the truth of the testimony given. The instruction that was
given in the early days of the message is to be held as safe instruction
to follow in these its closing days. Those who are indifferent to this
light and instruction must not expect to escape the snares which we have
been plainly told will cause the rejecters of light to stumble, and fall,
and be snared, and be taken. If we study carefully the second chapter of
Hebrews, we shall learn how important it is that we hold steadfastly to
every principle of truth that has been given.--The Review and Herald, July
18, 1907.
Soon every possible effort will be made to discount
and pervert the truth of the testimonies of God's Spirit. We must have
in readiness the clear, straight messages that since 1846 have been coming
to God's people.
There will be those once united with us in the faith who will search for new, strange doctrines, for something odd and sensational to present to the people. They will bring in all conceivable fallacies, and will present them as coming from Mrs. White, that they may beguile souls....
Those who have treated the light that the Lord has given as a common thing will not be benefited by the instruction presented.
There are those who will misinterpret the messages that God has given, in accordance with their spiritual blindness.
Some will yield their faith, and will deny the truth of
the messages, pointing to them as falsehoods.
Some will hold them up to ridicule, working against the light that God has been giving for years, and some who are weak in the faith will thus be led astray.
But others will be greatly helped by the messages. Though
not personally addressed, they will be corrected, and will be led to shun
the evils specified.... The Spirit of the Lord will be in the instruction,
and doubts existing in many minds will be swept away. The testimonies themselves
will be the key that will explain the messages given, as scripture is explained
by scripture. Many will read with eagerness the messages reproving wrong,
that they may learn what they may do to be saved. . . . Light will dawn
upon the understanding, and the Spirit will make an impression on minds,
as Bible truth is clearly and simply presented in the messages that since
1846 God has been sending His people. These messages are to find their
place in hearts, and transformations will take place.-- Letter 73, 1903.
Some sit in judgment on the Scriptures, declaring
that this or that passage is not inspired, because it does not strike their
minds favorably. They cannot harmonize it with their ideas of philosophy
and science, "falsely so called" (1 Tim. 6:20). Others for different reasons
question portions of the Word of God. Thus many walk blindly where the
enemy prepares the way. Now, it is not the province of any man to pronounce
sentence upon the Scriptures, to judge or condemn any portion of God's
Word. When one presumes to do this, Satan will create an atmosphere for
him to breathe which will dwarf spiritual growth. When a man feels so very
wise that he dares to dissect God's Word, his wisdom is, with God, counted
foolishness. When he knows more, he will feel that he has everything to
learn. And his very first lesson is to become teachable. "Learn of me,"
says the Great Teacher; "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls" (Matt. 11:29).
You who have been educating yourselves and others in a spirit of criticism and accusing, remember that you are imitating the example of Satan. When it suits your purpose, you treat the Testimonies as if you believed them, quoting from them to strengthen any statement you wish to have prevail. But how is it when light is given to correct your errors? Do you then accept the light? When the Testimonies speak contrary to your ideas, you treat them very lightly.
It does not become anyone to drop a word of doubt here and there that shall work like poison in other minds, shaking their confidence in the messages which God has given, which have aided in laying the foundation of this work, and have attended it to the present day, in reproofs, warnings, corrections, and encouragements. To all who have stood in the way of the Testimonies, I would say, God has given a message to His people, and His voice will be heard, whether you hear or forbear. Your opposition has not injured me; but you must give an account to the God of heaven, who has sent these warnings and instructions to keep His people in the right way. You will have to answer to Him for your blindness, for being a stumbling block in the way of sinners.
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according
to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20). Even
the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart is to be tested by the Word
of God. The Spirit which inspired the Scriptures, always leads to the Scriptures.--General
Conference Daily Bulletin, April 13, 1891.
One man, B by name, came all the way from Michigan
with a special message for Sister White. He said that Sister White had
been appointed by God to occupy the position occupied by Moses, and that
he, B, was to occupy the position of Joshua. Thus the work was to be carried
forward. Sister White's work was to be united with his work, and we were
to proclaim the truth with power.
This man took the liberty, as many others have done, to mingle a great deal of Scripture with his message, quoting passages which he applied to Seventh-day Adventists. During my connection with the work many such men have arisen. They have selected and arranged scriptures which they made applicable to the people of God. Mr. B read with a loud, strong voice the passages he had selected, declaring them to be applicable to us as a people. He said that I must see that he was right; for was it not the Bible he was reading.
"Yes," I said, "you have selected and put these scriptures together, but like many who have arisen as you have, you are wresting the Scriptures, interpreting them to mean thus and so, when I know they do not apply as you have applied them.
"You, or any other deluded person, could arrange and have arranged certain scriptures of great force, and applied them according to your own ideas. Any man could misinterpret and misapply God's Word, denouncing people and things, and then take the position that those who refused to receive his message had rejected the message of God, and decided their destiny for eternity.". . .
From the various letters which have come to me, I see
that when such men as B, claiming to be sent by God, go to those who are
more or less isolated from our people, these souls are ready to grasp anything
that purports to be of heavenly origin. Letters come to me entreating an
answer; I know that many men take the testimonies the Lord has given, and
apply them as they suppose they should be applied, picking out a sentence
here and there, taking it from its proper connection, and applying it according
to their idea. Thus poor souls become bewildered, when could they read
in order all that has been given, they would see the true application,
and would not become confused. Much that purports to be a message from
Sister White, serves the purpose of misrepresenting Sister White, making
her testify in favor of things that are not in accordance with her mind
or judgment. This makes her work very trying. Reports fly from one to another
regarding what Sister White has said. Each time the report is repeated,
it grows larger. If Sister White has anything to say, leave her to say
it. No one is called upon to be a mouthpiece for Sister White. . . . Please
let Sister White bear her own message. It will come with a better grace
from her than from the one who reports her.--Manuscript 21, 1901.
[EXTRACT FROM A SERMON AT THE GENERAL
CONFERENCE OF 1883, APPEARING IN NOTEBOOK LEAFLETS, THE CHURCH, NO.
6.]
When you find men questioning the testimonies, finding fault with them, and seeking to draw away the people from their influence, be assured that God is not at work through them. It is another spirit. Doubt and unbelief are cherished by those who do not walk circumspectly. They have a painful consciousness that their life will not abide the test of the Spirit of God, whether speaking through His Word or through the testimonies of His Spirit that would bring them to His Word. Instead of beginning with their own hearts, and coming into harmony with the pure principles of the gospel, they find fault, and condemn the very means that God has chosen to fit up a people to stand in the day of the Lord.
Let some skeptical one come along, who is not willing to square his life by the Bible rule, who is seeking to gain the favor of all, and how soon the class that are not in harmony with the work of God are called out. Those who are converted, and grounded in the truth, will find nothing pleasing or profitable in the influence or teaching of such a one. But those who are defective in character, whose hands are not pure, whose hearts are not holy, whose habits of life are loose, who are unkind at home, or untrustworthy in deal--all these will be sure to enjoy the new sentiments presented. All may see, if they will, the true measure of the man, the nature of his teaching, from the character of his followers.
Those who have most to say against the testimonies are
generally those who have not read them, just as those who boast of their
disbelief of the Bible are those who have little knowledge of its teachings.
They know that it condemns them, and their rejection of it gives them a
feeling of security in their sinful course.
When once men have admitted doubt and unbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, they are strongly tempted to adhere to the opinions which they have avowed before others. Their theories and notions fix themselves like a gloomy cloud over the mind, shutting out every ray of evidence in favor of the truth. The doubts indulged through ignorance, pride, or love of sinful practices, rivet upon the soul fetters that are seldom broken. Christ, and He alone, can give the needed power to break them.
The testimonies of the Spirit of God are given to direct men to His Word, which has been neglected. Now if their messages are not heeded, the Holy Spirit is shut away from the soul. What further means has God in reserve to reach the erring ones, and show them their true condition?
The churches that have cherished influences which lessen faith in the testimonies, are weak and tottering. Some ministers are working to attract the people to themselves. When an effort is made to correct any wrong in these ministers, they stand back in independence and say, "My church accepts my labors."
Jesus said, "Every one that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." There are many today pursuing a similar course. In the testimonies are specified the very sins of which they are guilty; hence they have no desire to read them. There are those who from their youth up have received warning and reproofs through the testimonies; but have they walked in the light and reformed?--Not at all. They still indulge the same sins; they have the same defects of character. These evils mar the work of God, and make their impress upon the churches. The work the Lord would do to set the churches in order is not done, because the individual members-and especially the leaders of the flock--would not be corrected.
Many a man professes to accept the testimonies, while they have no influence upon his life or character. His faults become stronger by indulgence until, having been often reproved and not heeding the reproof, he loses the power of self-control, and becomes hardened in a course of wrongdoing. If he is overworked, if weakness comes upon him, he has not moral power to rise above the infirmities of character which he did not overcome; they become his strongest points, and he is overborne by them. Then bring him to the test and ask, "Did not God reprove this phase in your character by the testimonies years ago?" He will answer, "Yes, I received a written testimony saying that I was wrong in these things." "Why, then, did you not correct these wrong habits?" "I thought the reprover must have made a mistake; that which I could see, I accepted; that which I could not see, I said was the mind of the one who gave the message. I did not accept the reproof."
In some cases the very faults of character which God would have His servants see and correct, but which they refuse to see, have cost these men their life. They might have lived to be channels of light. God wanted them to live, and sent them instruction in righteousness, that they might preserve their physical and mental powers to do acceptable service for Him; and had they received the counsel of God, and become altogether such as He would have them, they would have been able workmen for the advancement of the truth, men who would have stood high in the affections and confidence of our people. But they are sleeping in the grave, because they did not see that God knew them better than they knew themselves. His thoughts were not their thoughts, nor His ways, their ways. These one-sided men have molded the work wherever they have labored. The churches under their management have been greatly weakened.
God reproves men because He loves them. He wants them
to be strong in His strength, to have well-balanced minds and symmetrical
characters; then they will be examples to the flock of God, leading them
by precept and example nearer to heaven. Then they will build up a holy
temple for God.--Manuscript 1, 1883.
There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies
which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of
the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track
to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings
and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.-- Letter 40,
1890.