A DREAM | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 5, 1878

A DREAM.

We are not much of a believer in modern dreams, but the following clipped from an exchange, contains a lesson too valuable to be lost:—

It is said that a minister who lived in the time of Wesley, being wearied of his morning sermon, lay down to rest, and had a dream. He saw a man coming into the garden, a special friend of his, a minister of the gospel, a man of great gifts, and a successful preacher. He went toward him and was not a little surprised that the face of his friend appeared very sad, which was something unusual with him.

After saluting each other, he asked his friend what time it was, and it was just twenty-five minutes after four o’clock. The friend said: “It is just one hour after my death, and I am condemned forever—not because I did not preach the gospel; not that I was not successful, for there are now many sheaves which through me have been gathered into the store-house of God, that will bear witness to my success; but I am lost because I did not give God the honor, but sought to win the applause of the people to myself. Now I have my reward.”

The minister adds:—

“As he said this, he withdrew quickly, and I saw him no more. I then awakened, and the dream lay heavily on my mind. It was now time that I should again go to church to preach, and on my way thither a friend came to me and asked me if I had heard that Rev. — had died. I answered no! and upon further inquiry as to when he had died, I received the answer, ‘To-day, this afternoon, at twenty-five minutes after three o’clock.’ To preach to others and to be one’s self a castaway, is, according to the Holy Scriptures, possible.”—Selected.