Green’s Rejection of Spiritualism
By C. Green
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—My mind is often brought to bear on my past life and the position I then held in regard to my Maker. I had always supposed that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul of man was true. Considering it to be thus I was a fit subject for the delusions of Satan. Supposing the spirit of man to exist after death, I could see no inconsistency in communicating with the supposed departed spirits. In order to investigate the subject I become a medium. Several questions were asked. The answers were given, most of which were false. This led me to another way for proof. I was led by the Spirit of God (as I trust) to the sure word of prophecy. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. I read the "Signs of the Times," and from what I have heard and my own experience, I found there was no light in them. I saw by the Bible that the dead know not anything; while these spirits purport to be the departed dead: how absurd! But when I saw these things, I found myself in a sad situation. I saw that I was a sinner in the sight of God. Consider my anguish. I found that I was breaking most if not all of God's commandments, at heart if not openly, and especially the fourth. I saw what I must do. A penalty was attached to disobedience, a reward to obedience. It was hard for me to give up the world, and still harder to overcome Satan, and be branded as a Sabbatarian, a Millerite, &c. But thanks be to God through the grace of our Lord and Saviour, I overcame the first test. It is no longer a task to serve the Lord, and to deny myself the pleasures of this world. O no! I pray rather that I may suffer for Jesus' sake. Myself and companion are now trying to keep all the commandments; and it is my prayer to God that we may keep them in their purity. A goodly number have come out in the truth here. Our meetings are interesting, and I hope they will continue so till Christ shall come to take us all home to that glorious meeting where we shall sing praises to our great Deliverer forever and ever. Yours in love of the present truth.
C. GREEN.
Hebron, Wis., Aug. 24th, 1854.