God's Word vs. Dreams by H. Pratt

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 29, 1870

God's Word vs. Dreams.

By H. Pratt

The following dream was published some months since in the World's Crisis. The person who had the dream, Bro. Bahler, has since joyfully received the truth respecting the entire law of God. He says, “I have since become a commandment-keeper, and find much peace, joy, and comfort, in living out the law of God. I do not find the commandments grievous, but a delight, and I thank God for having led me into his marvelous light.” He therefore wishes the matter published in the REVIEW, to counteract as far as possible the evil of its appearance in the Crisis, remarking very truly that dreams are less to be relied upon than the word of God. When Eld. Pratt wrote, “It is the Lord’s doings,” the wish was evidently father to the thought. The following is his narration of the matter:

“In visiting among the brethren, I called as usual, upon a family who are much interested in the Sabbath question, especially the wife. We always talk freely upon the law and gospel with kindness. A blind brother sitting by, who has become a strong believer and an efficient laborer in the Advent cause, who had been boarding some months in this, and another family who keep the seventh day, listened with much attention. When we were through he says:

“‘I want to tell my dream, if you will hear it.’

“‘Very well,’ said I, ‘he that hath a dream let him tell a dream.’

“He says, ‘After hearing much upon the Sabbath, my mind became unsettled. I prayed the Lord to show me the truth. I said, Lord, you know I am blind, and can’t read, so do, Lord, show me the truth about the Sabbath. I prayed three weeks [just as long as Daniel prayed] before I got an answer. When I got an answer it was in a dream, which has settled my mind forever. I dreamed that I had been into the city, and returning home, came down Broadway [a street on which he lived], till I reached the gate leading up to the house. I saw in the path right before me the two covenants—the new and old. I saw a line between them. The new covenant was next to me, the old was on the other side of the line. I was about to step over the line, when I heard a voice, saying, “Stop! if you step over that line you will get entangled.’

“‘I turned aside and came up to the house. I awoke from sleep, and have had no more trouble about the Sabbath.’

“It seems to me that no one could have listened to that simple narrative from that poor blind and godly brother, without exclaiming, ‘It is the Lord’s doings, blessed be his holy name.’ H. PRATT.”