A Good Testimony for the Visions by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1866

A Good Testimony for the Visions.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

A GOOD sister who has lately embraced the truth, has just received from its enemies a package of objections to the visions. In writing for explanation on some points, she speaks of the visions thus:

“As to my own personal experience concerning the visions, I must say, I have never read any book except the Bible, which led me to search my heart, which gave me such desires for holiness, and which encouraged me to persevere in the good way, as do these books.”

Now can this be the work of Satan? Does he teach men to be better, to love God more, to fear for themselves, and to hate sin? Has any one ever been led to lightly esteem the Bible, or break the law of God, or cast away their faith in Christ, or to commit sin in any way by reading these visions? No; they have been led directly the other way. I have read the visions many times, but never without feeling stirred up to be more careful in my life and to be more devoted to God. Thousands of others bear a similar testimony.

But who are they that oppose the visions? The great mass of them are those who oppose the law of God and hate the Sabbath with a perfect hatred. The majority of the rest are those who have been reproved and their wicked course condemned and exposed by these visions. There is a plain reason why they hate them. Do those who have cast away the visions live any better, or more holy lives than when they believed them? No; but the reverse. How do I know that? Because they can now join hand in hand with those who are the bitterest enemies of God’s law and Sabbath, and who were once their enemies. They are now good “brethren” together and can have their papers, books, and appointments advertised by them. See advertisements in the Crisis.

It seems strange to me how those who believe in the Sabbath and third angel’s message can reject the visions. The greatest reformation that has ever been wrought on the Sabbath has been carried on by those who profess to be preaching the third angel’s message. Do you believe the Sabbath reform is of God? Yes. Do you then believe that the very means which has started, led out, and sustained this reform, is all of the Devil? Who started the paper that is now doing so much for the Sabbath? Who published the books that are now shedding so much light on the Sabbath and kindred truths? Whose prayers, preaching, and labors have brought so many thousands into the observance of God’s law? All well know that Bro. and Sr. White have led out and done more in all this work than any others. Now what is more absurd and contradictory than to suppose that the work is of God, and the workmen of the Devil! The cause of God, but the means of Satan!!

Dear friends, this is the position that those occupy who accept the Sabbath reform, and reject the visions.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Portland, Me.