LIFE INCIDENTS by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1868

LIFE INCIDENTS.

By James White

The chapters being furnished under this caption are prepared in reference to the praise and glory of the Lord, to magnify his work and name in the minds and hearts of his people. I would not burden the columns of the Review with matters relative to myself of no special interest or profit to its readers. It will be a pleasure to weave into this narrative much of Second Advent history, especially that relating to the passing of the time, and the rise and progress of the third angel's message.

And as I have participated in this entire experience, and have taken an active part in the third message from its rise, I may be allowed to speak quite freely relative to it in these chapters.

Some of the points I wish to make appear in their true light are,

1. That the proclamation of definite time was in the providence of God, and received divine sanction.

2. That the great time movement of 1843 and 1844 did not produce fanaticism, but whenever it did attach itself to the Advent cause, it was not the result of the time, but extreme views of sanctification, and that the solemn power which attended the movement of 1844 was especially destructive to the spirit of ultra sanctification.

3. That the passing of the time, and the disappointment and delay, are matters of prophecy, and help to fill up God's great plan of purifying, making white, and proving his people before being translated to Heaven at the second coming of Christ.

4. The believers immediately after the passing of the time were agreed in the impression that their work was done, and that the door was shut.

5. That although all Adventists now agree that there is work to do for the world, and that the door of mercy is open, there is a wide difference in the manner in which two classes have come out of this mistaken view. The difference is this: Those who reject the third message did it by giving up their second advent experience, and backsliding from the work of God, wrought in them by it, while those who receive this message get out of their shut-door views in holding fast their experience, and waiting till the matter was fully and satisfactorily explained by the sanctuary and the three messages.

6. The result is that one class have backslidden from God, and have drawn back, at least, toward perdition, while the other class do not cast away their confidence in God, nor in his work, but hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast, walk forward in the light of present truth, and keep the commandments of God.

7. Before one class is perdition; before the other are the gates of the golden city and the tree of life.

8. The rise and progress of the third message, with the labors and trial of those connected with it, in consequence of the unbelief and rebellion of some of its professed friends.

9. Facts of which I have personal knowledge, relative to false reports in regard to the Testimonies to the church, circulated against us as a people by our enemies. The case under the caption, Time to Commence the Sabbath, is a sample.

If the friends of the cause want a book of 300 pp., Providence permitting, I will prepare it. Should not these chapters be in a book ever ready for reference, or for Sabbath reading, to revive the past in the minds of believers? Shall I not hear from those interested in such a work? Address me at Greenville, Montcalm Co., Mich. JAMES WHITE.