Belief in Spiritual Gifts
By Austin Harmon
BRO. WHITE: It is now four years since I commenced keeping the Sabbath. Though I have labored under some trials and discouragements, I think I can truly say that it has been a source of pleasure to me to take and maintain this stand. The weekly visits of the Review have been very instructive and refreshing to me. I wish to acknowledge, however, that I have not been as strong in the faith as I should have been. This is particularly true in regard to the Testimonies to the church. My confidence in these testimonies has been strengthened. I do believe that the Spirit of God is in this work, and I dare not take a position in opposition to it. I regret that I have been so long in coming to this conclusion. My health and circumstances have been such as to preclude, in a great measure, a thorough and candid examination of this part of our faith. I might also add that the misrepresentations of disaffected ones have contributed, I fear, to prejudice my mind to some extent against these testimonies. I have been slow, too slow, I acknowledge, to come to a settled determination on this important subject. All this I very much regret. Of late I have thought and read more than I had previously done on the question, Are these gifts and testimonies from the Spirit of God? I now wish to acknowledge my firm belief in the perpetuity of spiritual gifts. In the first place the church, especially in these apostate and perilous times needs the manifestation of the gifts, for the purpose of reproof, correction, and guidance. It seems most reasonable and desirable, and necessary that God should manifest himself in an extraordinary manner to his tempted and faithful people, who against the whole current of corrupt and wicked influences in the church, and in the world, are striving to maintain the true standard of holiness, to seek for and restore the old paths, and as a united people journey to the better land. I am not prepared to deny that God has vouchsafed these extraordinary gifts to his people under the third angel's message. It seems to me that no candid person who examines thoroughly the history of this whole movement, the difficulties and obstacles in the way of those who went forth to proclaim this message, the slow and sure progress of the work, and the present position that has been attained after years of patient toil, can deny that the whole work which has from the first been carried on along with the manifestation of the gifts, is the work God, and not of man. I wish to help and not to hinder in this work. So far as I have by unbelief and waywardness grieved the hearts of God's dear people, I ask forgiveness for the same. I feel a strong desire to go with the remnant people of God to Mount Zion. I still feel weak. I have contended with many hindrances, and I expect in the future to contend with many more. The Quarterly Meeting that I have enjoyed with God's dear people in Rochester for the two days preceding this, has been I trust blessed to me. I thank the brethren for their kind encouragement and sympathy. My prayer to God is that I may be delivered from every evil and preserved blameless to his heavenly kingdom.
AUSTIN HARMON.