The Love of Truth by Wm. Penniman.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 30, 1872

The Love of Truth

By Wm. Penniman.

The Love of the Truth, AND THE DANGER OF EMBRACING “STRONG DELUSION” BY NOT RECEIVING IT.

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess. 2:11, 12. For what cause shall this strong delusion be sent? The context, verse 10, clearly shows: “Because they [meaning those who are deceived by this agency of Satan] received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” God, therefore, does not willingly send them this delusion. In one sense, they bring it upon themselves by rejecting the truth. There is much implied in the words, “The love of the truth.” Those who receive the truth in the love of it, will obey it. Such, not only take hold of the truth, but the truth takes hold of them; and they can exclaim, like the psalmist, “Oh! how love I thy law.” They take delight in doing the will of God. They love God, love his truth and his people, and so long as they cling to the truth, they will escape the strong delusion.

This strong delusion is spiritualism; for it is “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” Is not spiritualism one of the last great efforts of Satan to deceive the church and the world? Are not the manifestations of spiritualism powerful? and has it not been powerful in its seductive influences? Let from ten to twelve millions, who have embraced it, answer.

How great are its signs, how forcible the language which describes its manifestations as lying wonders. No other power or agency of the enemy can answer the fulfillment of this prophecy but modern spiritualism. Abundance of Scripture evidence can be given, and is given, in the work entitled, “Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism,” to show that it is not of God. The point which we wish to notice particularly in this article is the danger of embracing this delusion by rejecting the truth.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1. Here we have the prediction, and we can clearly see its fulfillment in the great apostasy which has taken place, and is now going on, in the church. This prophecy was given to warn the church against its corrupting influences; thus pointing out the danger of departing from the faith. Those who have come partially under its influence, and have escaped, know the power which it has over them, and can more fully weigh the meaning of the words, strong delusion. Like the serpent, it is fascinating, and like the serpent, the nearer you get to it, the more apt you are to be swallowed up. It holds out promises—tells you, “You shall not die,” but shall live forever even though you may go on in sin.

To seduce means “to draw aside from the path of duty in any manner, by promises, flattery, bribes, or otherwise.” Hence they are called seducing spirits, and those who come under this influence are just as likely to be drawn away by this strong delusion or deception, as the man who is nearing the falls of a mighty river is in danger of going over the awful precipice. But says one, I wish to attend a spiritual circle just one evening, to know how they perform. Thus to satisfy an idle curiosity the first step is taken. This curiosity-and-wonder-seeker is introduced to some of his departed friends by shaking hands through the medium. He goes again to make new acquaintances, and to learn something more, until finally, he is completely under its satanic influence. Let all take heed to the words, “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:19, 20.

How true it is that one false step has ruined thousands. I am acquainted with a young man of talent, a friend, who once could not say too much in favor of the Bible. He was opposed to spiritualism, and even debated against it in public. In process of time he came under its influence by attending spiritual parties and circles. Now he has become a confirmed spiritualist, and pronounces the word of God a fable. No doubt he will indorse the doctrine of Moses Hull, and deem the blood of Jesus Christ no better than that of an ox. The awful prophetic truth of Heb. 10:29, that they shall count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, has been already set forth in the REVIEW. That we may be on our guard against the allurements of spiritualism, we need to watch and pray; for Satan holds out the bright side of the picture, and has the power of transforming himself into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Let us see what they claim, and the reader can judge in regard to its truthfulness.

“It is an acknowledged fact by both friend and foe, that where there is the most intelligence, enterprise, and refinement, there also will be found the most spiritualism.” It’s true that there are men of intelligence in their ranks, but is that any proof that they are right? Is not Satan intelligent? Has not the strength of their minds been diminished by this almost irresistible hallucination? Truly, this satanic influence “leads to bewilder, and dazzles to blind.” They may have enterprise, if enterprise consists in attempting to dethrone God, and to overthrow all things sacred in Heaven and on earth. It can be shown from their writings that they deny and blaspheme God.

Again, they say the “New Philosophy is the sworn enemy to ignorance and vulgarity, and is the inseparable companion of intelligence and refinement.” If refinement consists in breaking down all distinction between right and wrong, then they are refined. They are, no doubt, opposed to vulgarity, as they have progressed to that state in which they are “past feeling,” and “glory in their shame.”

“There is scarcely a reform of the day not heralded by spiritualists.” Bold assertion! It is policy for them to move out in some of the reforms, but the one watchword which characterizes them all is, “Whatever is, is right.”

Still further, they say, “The churches are infected with this new system of religion, and every college in the land is infected with ideas about spiritualism; and two or more professors in many of our first colleges are avowed spiritualists, and also many of our statesmen in Congress.” This boasting in regard to the churches, professors, and statesmen, is only to the writer’s condemnation, and proves the truth of the prophetic word, that many shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, &c.

Those who believe that the soul is not immortal have the great safeguard against this work of the enemy. Let all, then, who would escape “strong delusion,” be careful how they refuse to “receive the love of the truth,” either in regard to the state of the dead, the sanctuary, the Sabbath, the coming of Christ, or any of the kindred truths of the third angel’s message.

How careful, then, should we be that we may not be among that company who are fulfilling the prophecy in not receiving the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Wm. Penniman.