CONFESSION OF FAULTS by James White

Publishing Committee · BATTLE CREEK, MICH. · Jul 24, 1856

CONFESSION OF FAULTS.

By James White

THIS is a plain Bible duty, yet some seem never to think of it, or never think it can be their duty. It is noble, manly and Christian to confess faults, to leave error and cleave to truth. He who clings to his errors is foolish, while he who frankly exchanges them for truth is wise. He who commits errors which injure others should be willing, yea anxious, that his confessions should cover the entire ground of his errors.

Bro. Seaman's statements on another page will meet with general approval. We hope he will fully free himself from the snare which in an unguarded hour overcame him. One may sacrifice the confidence of brethren in an act of a moment, which can be fully recovered only by a godly life for a length of time. O God, save the erring.

We have borne abuse with some degree of patience, we trust from many of those who took sides with the Messenger. We now pity them, especially those who have been deceived by those who have made fair speeches in uttering the most heaven-daring falsehoods. Bro. S. says in a letter to us dated July 9th, "I have been deceived by liars that have told them with such a grace, and such enormity of expression, that I thought there must be some truth." "Am willing to do anything to undo the evil I have caused against the truth."

As an example of the course of some we would present the following from J. K. Bellows, which appeared in the sheet above named for Oct. 1855, against the REVIEW. "They have stopped my paper. I have had none since the first of December last. I had paid up for the current year, and I know not why they discontinued it, unless it was because I took sides with the Messenger. I confess I am in favor of truth, and opposed to their double dealing."

Now the facts in this case are simply as follows: J. K. Bellows' paper has never been discontinued, but regularly mailed to his address up to this date, although he has failed to pay up for it, and has frequently made statements in a public manner against the REVIEW and its conductors, as false and as bitter as the above. He has paid only 25 cts. on Vol. VII, and nothing on Vol. VIII. And notwithstanding all his past abuse he more recently writes to the Office in a style as though nothing had happened!!

Such statements as the above were calculated to cast a strong influence against the REVIEW in the minds of those who were not personally acquainted with J. K. B. or the conductors of the REVIEW. It was best, perhaps to bear such things in silence till the feverish excitement on minds affected by such statements should subside, and the crusade against the REVIEW prove a failure. Now facts in such cases may help those who can be helped.

Again we say we pity the erring. And could we see them penitent, we would gladly weep with them over the errors they have been led to commit.

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

J. W.