A WARNING TO VISION HATERS.
By W. H. Ball
To that class of Adventists, who hate the visions, and trample under foot the law of God, by breaking the fourth precept of that law, and teach others to do the same, I have nothing to say. But to such as keep the Sabbath, but reject the visions, are these lines addressed. My dear friends, listen a moment while I call your attention to a few facts, and give you a little of my experience, while engaged in the same work as yourselves. I have traveled the same road, and profess to have some knowledge of the way, and wish to give you a word of admonition. Some of you who are warring against the visions, once had the utmost confidence in Sr. White, and her testimonies. You believed these testimonies were from Heaven, until you were reproved by them, and your faults and idols pointed out. Since then, you have questioned, doubted, and bitterly opposed, these revelations. Not because your wrongs were not accurately pointed out, and your condition perfectly described, but because poor self refused to be humbled. Thus the great love and condescension on the part of God to undeceive you, and reveal to you your true condition, you have slighted, and set at naught. You have “rejected the counsel of God against yourselves.” Men, and women too, are very willing their good deeds should be made known; but when their wrongs are pointed out, dear self is touched, they become very sensitive, and rebellion often ensues. Well would it be for such if they would receive these reproofs, and be zealous to put away their idols, and correct their wrongs. But instead of this they cherish a rebellious spirit, begin to war and fight the visions, and are left of God to take their own course, which leads direct to perdition. Many of you, like the writer, have had but little knowledge of Sr. White, or her work. Perhaps you have never been reproved by vision, or even seen the humble instrument through which these testimonies are given, yet you possess a hard, bitter spirit, and consider it a virtue to oppose this work. I wish to say to all such as oppose these manifestations, beware lest you be found fighting against God. Do you say there are apparent contradictions in the visions, and that you cannot harmonize all their teachings? Then, I inquire, do you not meet with the same difficulty in your study of the Bible? Are there no apparent contradictions to be found there? no things “hard to be understood”? no texts you cannot harmonize? If you think not, I would like to give you a few examples; but you are doubtless ready to admit this to be the case. Yet you do not reject the Bible as the word of God, but believe it to be an inspired book. Then why reject the visions because you fail to harmonize all their teachings? A tree is known by its fruit. Do the testimonies when received and lived out, lead away from God and from Heaven? Reject them at once. But if their tendency is to lead us farther and farther away from this dark, sinful world, and nearer to God, to Heaven, and holy angels, then let us take heed how we oppose them. How is it with you, dear friends, since you commenced to war against the visions? Is your devotion to103God and his cause greater than ever before? Have you become less worldly, and more heavenly minded? Has your spirituality greatly increased, and have you received a greater fitness for Heaven? If not then you have gained nothing by rejecting the visions. I will here give you a bit of my experience which is just the reverse of this. When I commenced to keep the law of God, I was not an opposer, but a believer in the visions. I took great satisfaction in reading the testimonies, and was greatly blessed while endeavoring to heed their instructions. The more confidence I had in Sr. White and her testimonies, the greater was my enjoyment. But Satan, who hates the visions with perfect hatred, ere long led me to doubt. I began to question this point, and to express doubts upon that point; to raise objections here, and to oppose there; until my unbelief led me away from the light, from the truth, and from God. I was enshrouded in darkness. I became less and less spiritual, and more and more worldly-minded. I began to lose my interest in the cause of God, until religious duties became a burden. The family altar was nearly broken down, secret prayer almost wholly neglected, and my heart nearly destitute of the Spirit of God. All this, I now believe, to be the result of opposing the work and Spirit of God as manifested in the testimonies. I care not how much religion individuals may have, no sooner do they begin to oppose the gift of prophecy, as manifested among this people, than they begin to backslide from God. Hundreds of living witnesses can attest to this fact. Go, if you please, among the different churches of Sabbath-keepers east and west, and inquire for the most humble, devoted, zealous, and spiritual members, and you will invariably be pointed to those who have perfect confidence in the testimonies of Sr. White. Should you ask why this brother or that sister is halting by the way, and have lost their interest in the cause of God, the answer will be, they disbelieve the testimonies, or refuse to be corrected by them. You may think, dear friends, that you enjoy the blessing of God, the smile of Heaven, while warring against the visions, but it is not so. It is a deception of the Devil. God cannot and will not bless those who reject these heavenly manifestations. The frown of Heaven rests upon such, and sooner or later they will see their mistake. In proof of this, let me cite your minds to the history of those who have rebelled against the testimonies, and opposed this work from the beginning. There was the Messenger party, so-called. They withdrew from the body, and undertook to run a train of their own, and independent of the visions. But God was not with them, and they soon smashed up, and went to pieces. Since then different individuals at different times have withdrawn from the body, but have soon made shipwreck of their faith, and gone to ruin. Some have gone into Spiritualism, others into the Age-to-come view—some one way and some another. We might mention in this connection the rebellion in Iowa, carried on by Messrs. Snook, Brinkerhoof & Co. They became so restless, that they could not remain with the body, and so withdrew, and, like the Messenger party, started a paper of their own, in which they could give vent to their pent-up hatred to the visions. But the prospering hand of God has not been with them, and they are fast going down. For more than two years I was a subscriber to that sheet, and have carefully watched their progress. The paper has from the beginning struggled hard for an existence. And I venture to predict it will not survive another twelve months. A late number of the Review informs us that W. H. Brinkerhoof, for many months editor of that sheet (but who more recently has given his attention to preaching), has given up the business, and resumed the practice of law. He evidently finds it don't pay to oppose the work of God. A short extract from his “confession” may not be out of place here in concluding my remarks, as it contains some excellent advice; perhaps better than I could give. He says, “And let me here say that my experience, though a sad one, has taught me that to doubt this truth, and the instrumentalities used by the Lord to bring it out, is to speedily lead one into the enemy's dark dominions, where he can be taken captive at his will. Oh! doubt not this truth. Fear not its ultimate results. Put not forth your hands to steady the ark, as I thought to do. And though angry waves may roll high, God will take care of his truth, and bless its upbuilders, and send confusion and weakness upon those who, like some people anciently, thought to stay the work of God.” I heartily indorse the above. How true that God does send confusion and weakness upon those who think to stay this work. I think it safe to keep on board the old ship awhile longer. Come friends, get on board, and keep on board.