p. 190 | Signs and Wonders by G.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 14, 1865

"Signs and Wonders."

By G.

Dr. Newton, the Healing Medium, in Portland, Maine, and Newport, R. I., Teachings of the Spirits, &c.

THE extracts below, taken from "The Banner of Light," show that now, as in the days of Jannes and Jambres, great "signs and wonders" are wrought by the aid of Satan's deceptive power. The reader will notice in these paragraphs the blasphemous allusions, such as "the Great Healer," "nothing behind the chiefest apostles," "apparently nothing behind 'one Jesus,'" &c., which are applied to this medium. Also let it be remarked that the spirits teach that "whatever is, is right," thus ignoring sin, and a fear to do wrong. Their disrelish for the Bible is easily to be accounted for. That Book says, "Seek not to them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter;" for "all that do so are an abomination unto the Lord." Reader, note the following, and then thank God that you have been preserved (if haply you have) from this bewitching snare of the Devil.

"It was our good fortune," says a writer in the Banner of Light, "to spend several days in Portland, while the great Healer was performing his wonders there; and being at leisure, a large portion of the time was spent in the hall which he occupied. Of some of the most important cases, we made a memorandum.

"Mrs. Mary A. Wallace, from New Hampshire, had been unable to walk for seventeen years, with the exception of two or three steps. In a few minutes she walked about the hall, and then to the hotel, more than half a mile distant. The next morning she walked to the hall again, and said she was cured. She walked, seemingly, with perfect ease.

"One young lady, who could not hear a sound, and had not for years, was restored in a moment so she could hear the lightest whisper. She requested her friends to ask her questions in whispers; and her face was radiant with gladness as she answered them aloud. She clapped her hands, and manifested the most exuberant joy at her recovery. Many other like cases were healed in the same incredibly short space of time.

"One young man was assisted up the stairs, unable to lift one foot from the floor, and the other was fast becoming useless. He walked down the stairs, lifting his feet as high as any one.

"Another boy was healed so quick, of a lame knee—so lame that he got about with difficulty, aided by a cane—that he exclaimed, as he ran down stairs, 'By George, did n't he do that quick !'

"All who passed beneath the gentle touch of his healing hands, were benefited; many permanently cured. Many an evidence of his wonderful skill has he left in Portland; many will bless him daily and hourly. The blind whom he has caused to see, will rejoice forever. The speechless whom he has restored, will speak his name with gladness. The deaf who have been made to hear, will listen to his praises with inexpressible joy. And from all hearts rises a fervent 'Thank God for Dr. Newton.'"

Another writer in noticing Dr. Newton's labors at Newport, R. I., says:

"Dr. Newton, also of this city, and of all the country round about, though he may often fail, has wrought some cures, where a prophet might be supposed to be without honor, nothing behind the chiefest apostles—apparently nothing behind 'one Jesus,' who, as recorded, was very potential in the same law of nature; though sometimes he could not do many mighty works, because of unbelief. Yet we are knowing to one case of such stubborn unbelief and refusal to have Newton, that we took the responsibility and sent him; and though a case of complicated disease and long suffering, restoration was very sudden, as the patient herself assured us. Indeed, among the many failures, the cases which have come to our knowledge as suddenly cured, are nothing less miraculous than those claimed to have been restored by the Christ-power of old time, when the power of the Lord was to heal them after suffering many things of many physicians, or after being bound by Satan, lo! these eighteen years."

THE "Message Department," in its answers by spirits to certain questions, has the following precious tid-bit.

"Q.—Is there any such thing as error? "A.—No not absolutely. "Q.—Do people ever make mistakes? "A.—No, not positively. "Q.—Human intelligence is short-sighted. "A.—So it would seem. "Q.—Do you mean to say that whatever is, is absolutely right? "A.—That is the position we occupy. "Q.—Supposing I should take it into my head to blow out your reporter's brains, should I do wrong? "A.—If you should suddenly take such a course, that would be proof positive that there was a cause for it. "Q.—Should I not suffer the consequences of such an act? "A.—It was said by some one recently at this place, "that offenses must come;" and closely upon that followed the words, "But woe unto him by whom the offense cometh." "Q.—Are you acquainted with the prophets and apostles of the Saviour? "A.—Yes. "Q.—How do your opinions correspond with theirs? "A.—In some things we agree, but there are differences of opinion upon many points. "Q.—Have they changed their opinions? "A.—Certainly they have. "Q.—If they were to re-write the Gospel or Epistles, would they write them differently? "A.—Certainly they would. These Gospels are to them now what your English Primer is to you to-day. It served you very well perhaps in childhood, as they served them very well in the years of their early pilgrimage."