p. 118 | BEWARE! by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 13, 1857

BEWARE!

By James White

BEWARE of what? Beware of deceivers—wolves in sheep's clothing—men who at one time appear very conscientious, and profess to be honestly desiring truth, and put on a very pious look to deceive, and who at another time, when overcome and frustrated by the force of truth, will in a passionate manner denounce and rage like mad-men. Beware of hypocrites—back-biters—liars—who resort to slander and vile misrepresentations of the advocates of truth to bring into disrepute the truths they advocate.

A man will use the best arguments he has. Those who resort to reproaches, slanders and abuse, in public and private, of honest persons who go right along teaching Bible truth, and minding their own business, show that these are their strongest arguments.

The strongest arguments against Wm. Miller were the foolish falsehoods, repeated by the clergy and the press, in regard to his "getting rich," "building a brick wall around his farm," "ascension robes," &c., &c. God will bring them into judgment for all these things.

A. N. Seymour, of Reading, Mich., after all his misrepresentations, slanderous reports and vile insinuations against myself and Mrs. W., now comes out in the Expositor with a note addressed to us, with much pretended honesty and piety, desiring a discussion of the Sabbath question through the REVIEW AND HERALD!! We inquire, Why does he wish to discuss with one such as he has represented us to be? If his statements and representations of us be correct, then we are totally unfit to discuss any Bible subject. From his course in this respect he shows that he does not believe the statements he fondly reports, or, that he is a man that poorly understands his business, and is not competent to discuss, and decide in regard to any important Bible question.

Be it known to all men, that we gladly engage in the discussion of the Sabbath question in a proper manner, with sane men, without distinction of rank or color. We have endeavored to seize upon all candid and well written articles against the observance of the Lord's Sabbath, and review them, and publish to the world both sides of the question. This we have done, as nine volumes of the Review testify. This we design to do in the future, where articles are to the point, and not tediously lengthy.

The reason why the Editor of the Review did not publish Mr. Seymour's recent article is because he regarded the man utterly unworthy of occupying space in the paper. When Mr. Miller and Mr. Seymour visited the church in this place last Winter, Mr. Miller was allowed to speak, and set forth his no-Sabbath sentiments in the house of prayer, while Mr. Seymour was not allowed by this church who knew him, to take any part whatever in the services, on account of his wicked course. The friends of the two men acknowledge that Mr. Miller is a man of much greater ability than Mr. S., so it will be seen that the church were not afraid to hear either of them, but they had no confidence in Mr. Seymour, and honestly told him so.

We here give the following testimony from Bro. Waggoner, published last April.

"Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matt. vii, 15. As answering to the above description the church should beware of A. N. Seymour, who professes to be a minister of righteousness, but is in reality a minister of unrighteousness, or sin, which is the transgression of the law. At a meeting held by himself and E. Miller jr., in Oct. last, in Lenawee Co., he declared that thenceforth his work was to overthrow the Sabbath. In Jan. last, referring to our lecturing in different places, he said, 'Let them work: I can pull down faster than they can build up,' and again stated his determination to direct his whole energies to put down the Sabbath. He is also circulating the most slanderous reports against the brethren. Within a few days after his making the last mentioned statement, he came to the Sabbath evening meeting of the Hillsdale church, and by plausible speeches and fair professions caused some of them to believe that he was an honest inquirer after the truth. Of course they were not aware of his expressed determination to destroy their faith, and scatter the flock. Had he appeared among them openly, in his true character—that of a ravening wolf—there would be but little danger of his influence. We hope the brethren in all places will remember his threat against the truth, when he comes to them in sheep's clothing, and 'beware.' J. H. Waggoner

Mr. Seymour could not, under the circumstances stated above, expect that we would discuss with him; yet a refusal to do so, would furnish him with matter to make a noise about in the Expositor. J. W.