A Word About the Spirit of Prophecy by E. HILLIARD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 8, 1915

A Word About the Spirit of Prophecy

By E. HILLIARD

E. HILLIARD

THE gift of prophecy was placed in the church by God to guide his people safely through the perils that surround them. There never was a time when this gift was needed more than now. Darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people. This gift tells of coming events. It penetrates the dark future and lights up the pathway for God's people. How can they prepare for these coming events unless they are forewarned? It is through the prophets that God has warned, reproved, and spoken words of encouragement. These holy men of God, who lived prior to Christ's advent, foretold events that are taking place around us. They have given us signs in the heavens and in the earth that are unmistakable omens of the great decisive day that settles the eternal destiny of all men. But the times which the people of God are to pass through just prior to the return of our blessed Lord will be fraught with an intensity greater than that of any former period of our world's history. It is now that the people of God need to study faithfully the instruction imparted through this gift.

We are living in extremely perilous times. Every day the perils are thickening around us. The priceless books written through the agency of the spirit of prophecy should be in every Seventh-day Adventist family—not to be laid upon the shelf unread, but, with the Bible, to be read daily, and the teachings treasured up in the heart. Then disputings and dissensions, which are so fatal to spirituality, will find no place among the chosen people of God.

Do all who have these books read them and cherish the truths they teach? Those who have prayerfully read them can truthfully say that they have sat together with Christ in heavenly places. None of these books are to take the place of the Bible. They are helps in understanding its teachings. They elucidate the truths of the Word and electrify the soul.

Some who are not of the Seventh-day Adventist faith have greatly appreciated the privilege of reading these books. Allow me to relate one or two instances. When in the Friendly Islands, of the South Pacific, I lent “Patriarchs and Prophets” to an intelligent European business man. Upon returning the book he said, “I have read the works of many eminent lady authors, but I have never read a book like this. It must be inspired.” He then asked for other books, which I gladly lent him.

One day while laboring in Tasmania, my colaborer and I boarded a train in order to reach the village where we were to canvass for “Christ’s Object Lessons.”

A middle-aged man entered the train and took his seat by my side. After a short conversation on current events, I drew forth my book and began to show him its valuable contents. He looked me in the face a few seconds, and then said, “Let me take the book.” He opened to the title page and read the author’s name aloud, then turning to me, he asked, “When do you deliver the book?” I gave him the date. “You may bring me one,” he said; “I always buy every book that bears the name of Mrs. E. G. White on the title page.” I soon learned that his residence was but a few doors below me, upon the same street. I invited him to visit our tract society office to look through our literature. A few days later he called at the office; and while looking over the tracts, he discovered the one entitled “The Sufferings of Christ.” Seeing the author’s name, he said, “I read but one paragraph of her writings before feeling it right down in here,” placing his hand over his heart. This man was the superintendent of the largest Sunday school in Launceston, a city of twenty-two thousand inhabitants.

What a spiritual revival and forward movement there would be among us as a people if all would spend more time in earnest and prayerful study of the Bible, and read in connection therewith the writings of the spirit of prophecy. We should read and study these precious books more earnestly than the gold miner studies his guidebook that he may be enabled to obtain the coveted object of his search. Eternal riches await the faithful, prayerful student of God’s Holy Word, and an unending life in which to enjoy the heavenly treasures. Let us awaken and read, study, watch, and pray, lest the enemy of our souls cheat us out of the crown of life that awaits us at the end of the journey.

St. Paul, Minn.