Light by Simon Patten

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 26, 1867

Light.

By Simon Patten

The Apostle Paul in writing to the Ephesians, chap. v, 13, says, “But all things that are reproved (or discovered, margin) are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” If we have lost any thing in the dark, we want a light to enable us to find it. So Paul in referring to this plain fact applies the same to spiritual things. But I wish to inquire, what has been the tendency of the Visions that are generally received among Seventh-day Adventists? Has it been to cover up, or expose wrong? Is it not one important object they have accomplished to purge out wrongs in the church, as well as to disclose individuals who were in concealed iniquity, yet professing to be of us? Have they not uncovered and reproved sins with an unsparing hand, that could not have been reached in any other way? Let the facts, published of late in the Review, answer.

But let it be remembered that whatsoever doth make manifest is light. If they have made manifest and reproved wrong, then certainly they have filled the office of light; and if they are light and are placed in the church to guide it through the perils of the last days, let us be careful how we lightly esteem or regard them.

SIMON PATTEN. Germania, Wis., Feb. 2, 1867.