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DREAMS

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Publishing Committee · Saratoga Springs, N. Y. · Jan 13, 1852

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 2, No. 10.

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DREAMS.

By Editor

It becomes our duty to speak plainly against the course pursued by some relative to dreams. That God has in all past time revealed to his people in dreams we fully believe. And that he is to especially instruct the ignorant and erring through this medium in the last days is evident from Joel ii, 28-32; Acts ii, 17-21. But we do object to the course of some in relating all their dreams as special revelations from the Lord, as a rule of duty for themselves or others to walk by. We consider such in the snare of the devil, exposed to his deceptive power.
"Now the just shall live by FAITH;" but he that undertakes to walk by the light of dreams will sooner or later, stumble and fall. The Bible is a complete rule of faith and practice, a sure guide from earth to heaven. In that precious Volume the man of God is thoroughly furnished, and those who look for another guide will surely be led astray. But if we, while walking by faith, taking the Bible as our guide, praying for the Spirit of truth to enlighten our understandings, honestly err from truth or duty, and are in danger of being lost, then we may hope that God in mercy will do more for us than the common means of grace are designed to do. Our extreme necessity may move the High and Holy One to send an angel to especially reveal to us.
But he who supposes that his general course may be marked out by dreams, and that in this way the particulars of his duty should be revealed, not only exposes himself to be perplexed by those dreams that come "through the multitude of business," [Eccl. v, 3.] but also to be deceived, and ruined by dreams directly from satan. See Deut. xiii, 1-5; Jer. xxiii, 23-28; xxvii, 9; xxix, 8; Zech. x, 2; Jude, 8. Man's extreme necessity alone, being in great danger of ruin, is God's opportunity to give special revelations.
The following may be a rebuke to those who are forward to relate the multitude of their dreams, as revelation from God.
Says the prophet. "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through a multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words." Eccl. v, 1-3.
The following from Ecclesiasticus xxxiv, 1-8, is to the point.
"The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false; and dreams lift up fools. Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face. Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come? Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain; and the heart fancieth, as a woman's heart in travail. If they be not sent from the Most High in thy visitation, set not thy heart upon them. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that PUT THEIR TRUST in them.
THE LAW shall be found PERFECT WITHOUT LIES; and wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth." Eccl. xxxiv, 1-8.
"The prophet that hath a dream let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the CHAFF to the WHEAT? saith the Lord." Jer. xxiii, 28.
God's word is a solid rock. On that Word alone, our faith is based. And we exhort the scattered brethren to take the Word as the only rule of faith and duty. The Lord may give dreams to comfort the individuals who have them, when in distress or to correct the erring; but when they are compared with the word of God they are like the "CHAFF" to the "WHEAT."
The above is the position of the church at Oswego, (N. Y.).
G. W. HOLT. JAMES WHITE.