Heavenly Visions 6

JOHN NORTON LOUGHBOROUGH

ALL THIS CAME.

THE following words are those used after the prophet Daniel's interpretation of the dream given to the proud Nebuchadnezzar respecting his humiliation: "All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar." Dan.4:28.

The exact accomplishment upon Nebuchadnezzar of what Daniel had said in interpreting his dream seemed to establish faith in the Chaldean queen that what he would predict was from the Lord; for when the handwriting on the wall was confounding all the skill of the wise men of Babylon, she said to Belshazzar: "There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father ["grandfather," margin] light of understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation." Dan.5:11,12.

In this instance, as in others, the simple narration of the fact that what had been predicted by the prophet was accurately fulfilled, inspired faith that he had divine illumination, - that he was, indeed, taught of God. So it should be in the confirming of the Spirit of Prophecy among those "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Cor.1:6,7.

In the further study of this question we refer to a prediction made in a vision by Sister White, at Parkville, Mich., Jan. 12, 1861, concerning the civil war that was to come in the United States. At that time only one State, South Carolina, had passed a secession ordinance.1 The people in the North little thought of war growing out of that. In the new York Tribune of that week, Horace Greenley, the editor, said, "A few old women with broomsticks could go down there and beat out all the rebellion there is in South Carolina." In speaking of it the week before, he said: "If some one with the firmness of Andrew Jackson should go down there and say, `South Carolina, where are you going?' they would reply, `Back into the Union again, sir.'"

After Sister White came out of the vision already referred to, she arose before the congregation, and said: "There is not a person in this house that has even dreamed of the trouble that is coming upon this land. People are making sport of the secession ordinance of South Carolina [some of the leading men of Parkville, while she thus spoke, sneered at the ideas she was advancing], but I have just been shown that a large number of States will yet join that State, and there will be a most terrible war. In this vision I have seen large armies of both sides gathered on the field of battle. I heard the booming of the cannon, and saw the dead and the dying on every hand. I saw the field after the battle, all covered with the dead and the dying. Then I was carried to prisons, and saw the sufferings of those in want, who were wasting away," etc. She said: "There are men in this house who will lose sons in that war."2

This vision, when given, was directly contrary to all Northern sentiment, but was nevertheless accurately fulfilled. Before the end of May, 1861, eleven States had seceded, and elected their Confederate president. On the 12th of April the first gun of war was fired on Ft. Sumpter, which surrendered to them on the 13th. The Northern idea of the war was so meager even then that President Lincoln called for only seventy-five thousand men for three months, to put down the rebellion. Little did the people in responsible places think they were entering upon a war to continue till the spring of 1865 - a war in which the North would have in the field 2,859,132 men, and the South probably half that number.

Not only was this vision accurately fulfilled concerning the secession of States and the war itself; but as the war continued, other things were predicted. At first the war was conducted with the thought of preserving the Union, allowing slavery to remain; but while that was the case, the North met many sad reverses. As expressed by Governor St. John, of Kansas, "Had we whipped the rebels, the politicians would have patched up a peace, and the Union would have been continued with slavery, and we would have had it to-day."3

As the Northern army met these reverses, national fast - days were appointed, and all Christians were to plead with the Lord to manifest his power in bringing the war to a close. In a vision given to Sister White, Jan. 4, 1862, speaking of these fasts, she said, "And yet a national fast is proclaimed! Saith the Lord, `Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?1 When our nation observes the fast which God has chosen, then will he accept their prayers as far as the war is concerned; but now they enter not into his ear."

Five months after this vision, the politicians of the North began to call for desperate measures. In June, 1862, the Republican Standard of New Bedford, Mass, said: "It is time to put into vigorous exercise that severity which is the truest mercy; it is time to proclaim freedom to the slave, and thus strike treason to the heart."

On Jan. 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation. Of it Governor St. John, in the speech previously mentioned, said: "But after Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation, we had swung round on God's side, and could not lose." From that time it was a course of almost continuous success that attended the Northern army.

Of these predictions through Sister White concerning the war, we can truly say, "All this came;" and can we not, with firmer faith than exhibited by the queen of Babylon, truly say that it was the Spirit of God that taught these things? RH Nov. 14, 1899

SERVICE.

            FRIENDS, how may you and I, plain and common folks,

            Best serve the One who doth our service claim?

            No glowing words can we from pulpit preach,

            To heathen lands we can not go to teach

                        In his dear name.

            Gold is not ours to give. Our days are filled

            With humble tasks to which our strength must go.

            But we, by doing well, day after day.

            What our hands find to do along our way,

                        May serve also.

            Kind words are ours to speak; and loving deeds

            May, every day, by willing hands be done.

            We do by Him as we by others do.

            His faithful servants must be just and true

                        To every one.

            Friends, when, with thankful hearts, we gladly do

            For those around us little acts of love,

            Which help to make their needs and sorrows less,

            Our willingness to serve we well express

                        To One above. ---A. L. TIBETTS.

"SO IT WAS."

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

THESE words were used by Pharaoh's chief butler when commending Joseph to the king of Egypt as one who could interpret his dreams. He said: "We told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me be restored unto mine office, and him he hanged." Gen.41:12,13. After hearing the facts stated by the chief butler, there seemed to be no question with Pharaoh but that Joseph would give him a correct interpretation of his dream, which so troubled him; and when the interpretation was given, he had no doubt that the thing would come to pass just as had been told him. He said to Joseph, "Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art." Verse 39.

If a heathen king could discern that the power to tell what would take place was proof of divine guidance, surely those professing faith in God and his working should recognize it. The Lord himself reasons with his people respecting the manifestation of his foresight, in these words: "I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I showed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Thou has heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them." Isa. 48:3-7.

The Lord's revelation of what he would do was through his prophets ("surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7); and when the thing predicted came to pass, he expected all who professed to be his people to acknowledge it as proof that he spoke the word, and that the instrument through whom he spoke was one of his true prophets. This principle is just as true in these modern days as in ancient times, and should be kept in mind when studying the instruction given by Paul, in 1 Thess. 5:21, to "prove all things" that come in the form of "prophesyings."

As a further application of this rule, we call attention to the prediction made by Sister White, in a vision given in Oswego, New York, June 20, 1855. It related to what was then called "the Messenger Party," which consisted of certain disaffected ones, who, having left our ranks, began a united opposition to the visions, claiming that, when rid of them, the third angel's message would at once "go with a loud cry." This party printed a paper called the Messenger of Truth. From this the party was named. They claimed to have more preachers than were left with us, and tauntingly said to our ministers, "We will follow up and get all your converts." One by the name of Drew put it in these words, "You go ahead and shake the bush, and we will follow up, and catch all the birds." The conflict was fierce, and the opposition bitter. As expressed of them by another, "There is nothing to which they will not stoop; and they are never likely to be out of scandal with which to assail those who have incurred their displeasure."

Until the Lord spoke directly concerning this party, our leading ministers considered it duty to answer the scandalous falsehoods that were published in the Messenger of Truth. Elders White, Waggoner, Cornell, and Frisbie, and the writer counseled together, and had arranged to write a reply to the malicious fabrications, each taking a separate line of attack. Just at this time the vision (the writer being present) was given in Oswego.

After coming out of the vision, Sister White, speaking to Elder White and me, said, "You brethren are mistaken as to your duty to answer the slanderous writings of the Messenger. It is only a trick of the enemy to divert you from using your time in spreading the truth. When you answer one of their lies, they will manufacture two more. The Lord says to let them alone, and go on with your work as if there was no such people on the earth, and in less than six weeks they will be at war among themselves. The candid ones among them will see their error and come back. The Messenger company will go to pieces, and their paper go down, while the third angel's message will advance more rapidly than ever. When their paper goes down, you will find that our ranks have doubled."

And "SO IT WAS." We let them alone, and made no reference to them nor their work in the REVIEW. First they complained, then they growled, and dared us for battle. In less than four weeks some of their financial supporters left them, and the dissension and fight was on among themselves. The cause of present truth advanced in every phase of its work. A statement made in the REVIEW, Jan. 14, 1858, just after the Messenger paper "breathed its last," having had a sickly existence of about three years, shows how accurately the prediction made in the Oswego vision was fulfilled. Speaking of the result of the Messenger work, the writer said: "At the time of the disaffection, when the effort was made to break down the REVIEW, the church property at the Office was worth only seven hundred dollars. Since, it has increased to five thousand dollars. Then, there were about one thousand paying subscribers; now, there are two thousand, besides quite a `free' list." As the number of paying subscribers to the REVIEW had exactly doubled, so the number of believers had increased more than twofold.

If, in the statement made by the Lord's servant, a heathen king could see proof that he was "a man in whom the Spirit of God is," should we not, as believers in the Bible and the living God, be as ready to acknowledge God's Spirit in the instruction he gives in these last days through his own humble instrument? RH Nov. 21, 1899.

A SONG OF FAITH.

            There are ships far away on the ocean

                        That landward no breeze will blow;

            There are yearnings some fate's put in motion

                        That never fruition will know.

            There are snows sleeping cold on the mountains

                        That never will yield to the sun;

            There are feelings with ever locked fountains

                        That will melt to the wishes of none.

            In the forests are suffering creatures,

                        Whose moanings are heard but by God;

            In the bosom are griefs whose white features

                        Are as hidden as those under sod.

            But, mortal, take heart, and the muttered

                        Rebellion of spirit disown.

            Not a prayer, saith the seer, was yet uttered

                        But it went without loss to the throne.

                                                ---WILL T. HALE.

BE IN HEALTH.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

JOHN, the beloved apostle, wrote to Gaius these words, "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2. This wish inculcates the same principle that the apostle Paul taught in his letter to the Romans, when he said: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom.12:1. This thought is also expressed in his prayer for the people of God, even down to this time: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body [life, mind, and body] be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." 1 Thess.5:23,24.

The Scriptures speak of that sanctification as being of a very doubtful kind that does not lead its possessor to have the glory of God in view in all that he does; for "whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor.10:31. Especially is this true when the Lord is about to come. "For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord." Isa.66:15-17; see also Isa.65:3-5.

Instead of this spurious sanctification, the Lord delights in a truly sanctified people; but to perfect them and to accomplish his work in them, he hews them by the prophets. Hosea 6:5. This fact understood leads to inquiry concerning what the Lord is now doing through the gift of prophecy in teaching a sanctification that corrects those wrong habits of eating and drinking which tend to build up the carnal nature, instead of mortifying our members. Col.3:5.

June 6, 1863, at Otswego, Mich., Sister White had the great and wonderful vision on healthful living, disease and its causes, drugs and their evil effects, etc. Regarding the nature of the principles there taught, and the proofs in the vision itself of its divine inspiration, I will quote from the words of Dr. J. H. Kellogg, in the preface in the book called "Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene," published in 1890. He says:-

1. At the time the writings referred to first appeared, the subject of health was almost wholly ignored, not only by the people to whom they were addressed, but by the world at large.

2. The few advocating the necessity of a reform in physical habits, propagated in connection with the advocacy of genuine reformatory principles the most patent, and in some instances disgusting, errors.

3. Nowhere, and by no one, was there presented a systematic and harmonious body of hygienic truths, free from patent errors and consistent with the Bible and the principles of the Christian religion.

Under these circumstances, the writings referred to made their appearance. The principles taught were not enforced by scientific authority, but were presented in a simple, straightforward manner by one who makes no pretense to scientific knowledge, but claims to write by the aid and authority of divine enlightenment.

How have the principles presented under such peculiar circumstances and with such remarkable claims stood the test of time and experience? is a question which may very properly be asked. Its answer is to be found in facts which are capable of the amplest verification. . . . The principles which a quarter of a century ago [written in 1890, now more than thirty-five years ago] were either entirely ignored or made the butt of ridicule, have quietly won their way into public confidence and esteem, until the world has quite forgotten that they have not always been thus accepted. . . . Every one of the principles advocated more than a quarter of a century ago is fortified in the strongest possible manner by scientific evidence. . . .

It certainly must be regarded as a thing remarkable and evincing UNMISTAKABLE EVIDENCE OF DIVINE INSIGHT AND DIRECTION, that in the midst of confused and conflicting teachings, claiming the authority of science. . . . a person making no claims to scientific knowledge or erudition should have been able to organize . . . a body of hygienic principles so harmonious, so consistent, and so genuine that the discussions, the researches, the discoveries, and the experience of a quarter of a century have not resulted in the overthrow of a single principle, but have only served to establish the doctrines taught.

Since 1863, the time when the diet question and healthful living was unfolded to Sister White, the subject of health reform has been classed with the preparatory work for fitting a people to meet the events before us. The Lord is leading his people "back, step by step, to his original design, - that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth." "The people who are seeking to become holy, pure, refined, that they may be introduced into the society of heavenly angels [will not] continue to take the life of God's creatures, and enjoy their flesh as a luxury."

She has further said that from what has been revealed to her, the animals whose flesh was used for food would become more and more diseased, until finally it would be unsafe to eat their flesh. The Lord, she said, was in mercy introducing these principles to his people that by practicing them they might be better fitted to meet and resist the increase of disease upon the human family, and stand unharmed amid the seven last plagues. The present increase of disease in the domestic animals is startling the nations of earth. The Lord's people see in this fact the fulfilling of the predictions made thirty-five years ago concerning this very thing. These predictions made through Sister White, as well as many other predictions that might be mentioned, according to rule five show her to be a true prophet of the Lord. RH November 28, 1899.

THE CUP OF COLD WATER

A PLANT, with its bright red berries and dark rich foliage, stood in a window; it was drooping and withering because its caretaker had forgotten the daily cup of cold water. How helpless it stood! like a picture of despondency, in the sunshine. Really, under the circumstances, clouds would have suited it better. But what a change after the refreshing drink was given! Each little leaf seemed to feel the new impulse, and in a short time it was a thing of beauty again.

Only a cup of cold water! Only a kind word to some one with care pressing on the heart, - just one word, perhaps, to tell of One who will take the care - Jesus. Only a few thoughts sent out, like a dove, to find rest in a troubled life, and to speak of the peace that passeth understanding. Only the mites that, with the Lord's blessing upon them, will bring forth fruits for him, a smile to a weary one, and a little poem or tract in the midst of busy hours to give new hope, or new light, along the way. There are so many "cups of cold water." And he who gives these as he journeys on "shall in no wise lose his reward." - Selected.

MIRACLES NOT A TEST OF TRUE PROPHETS.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

"IF there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not harken unto the words of that Prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Deut.13:1-3. Comparing 2Chron.32:24 with the marginal reading, we see that the "sign" to Hezekiah is called the working of a miracle.

It has been affirmed by many theological writers, and stated in commentaries on the Scriptures, that the sign of the true prophet is the working of miracles. This is contrary to Scripture, as no such rule is given in the Bible.

If the working of miracles is proof of a true prophet, then the "false prophet" mentioned in Rev.19:20 would be declared, after all, a true prophet; for of him it is said, "The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast." The same power is spoken of again in Rev.13:14, as deceiving "them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had POWER TO DO in the sight of the beast." By the same application of this rule, we would be driven to the conclusion that even Satan is a true prophet. Certain spirits who will do a special work under the sixth of the seven last plagues are called "the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev.16:14.

A true Bible vision, in which the prophet talks without breath, and walks about while wholly oblivious to things occurring around him, is indeed a miracle of God's power; but if the proof of a true prophet is to be found in the miracles he performs while out of vision, we would find but few of the Bible prophets who would stand this test; especially if the decision is to rest upon what is recorded concerning their works. It is true that miracles are recorded as being wrought by some of the prophets, as in the case of Elijah, Elisha, and Paul. But who has ever found a record in the Bible of the miracles of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc? Yet these were true prophets of the Lord, and are shown to be such by the rules the Lord has given as the test of true prophets.

That the working of miracles is not the test of a true prophet is clearly seen by reading the Scripture record of John the Baptist. That he was a prophet is shown by the prediction of Zacharias, the father, in relating the vision God had given him respecting the son that should be born to him: "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways." Luke 1:76. Our Saviour himself recognized John as that very Prophet who should prepare the way before him; for of John he said, "But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist." Luke 7:26-28.

Here, then, is a plain statement of the Saviour, that John was a prophet. Let us apply the test of miracle-working, and see the result. In the gospel, as written by John the evangelist, we have these words: "And many resorted unto him [Christ], and said, John did NO MIRACLE: but all things that John spake of this man were true." John 10:41. This statement alone is a complete refutation of the claim that the sign of a true prophet is the working of miracles.

The rule given in the thirteenth chapter of Deuteronomy, which we will designate as rule six in our present enumeration, is to guard against the running after anything wonderful or miraculous until we have first carefully noticed whether its tendency is to a greater nearness to the Lord or to a drawing away from him. This text (Deut.13:1-3) virtually tells us to apply all the rules, especially to see if it is in harmony with God and his law.

This sixth rule teaches that if a miracle is wrought by a pretender, there will be seen with it, when carefully tested, a departure from the sacred truths of God's word, and a lowering of the standard to meet a heart inclined to shun the way of self-denial. The Lord permits such a pretender to arise, and his course is a test to the true child of God, giving him an opportunity to weigh carefully the tendency or motive of said miracle-wonder. Those who cling to God's word, instead of being captivated by the false miracle-workers, come forth strong in God as the result of such experience.

In these evil days when many are claiming to be "faith-healers," "divine healers," or "Christian-science healers," etc., it would be well to apply closely the Scriptural rules; for it will need divine rules, and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, to enable us clearly to discern the intent and purpose of some of these "healers," so subtle is their work; while on the other hand are those who openly disregard God's law and his truth for this time. In some instances these pretended "healers" have raged like men filled with madness at even a mention of the law of God. As surely as the Lord has a message proclaiming his holy law, so surely are the men destitute of the movings of the Holy Spirit who rail against his law, and thrust from their presence those who even mention it. RH December 5, 1899.

BEGIN WITH GOD.

            BEGIN the day with God;

                        He is thy sun and day;

            He is the radiance of thy dawn.

                        To him address thy lay.

            Sing a new song at morn;

                        Join the glad woods and hills;

            Join the fresh winds, and the seas, and plains;

                        Join the bright flowers and rills.

            Take thy first meal with God:

                        He is thy heavenly food;

            Feed with and on him; he with thee

                        Will feast in brotherhood.

            Take thy first walk with God;

                        Let him go forth with thee;

            By stream, or sea, or mountain path

                        Seek still his company.

            Thy first transaction be

                        With God himself above;

            So shall thy business prosper well.

                        And all the day be love. ---Selected.

PREDICTIONS OF FALSE PROPHETS.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

"IF there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying,. . . thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams." Deut.13:1-3.

In still further noticing rule six for testing the gift of prophecy, the question may arise, If the prophet makes some prediction that comes to pass, even if it be a miracle that he said he would perform, would not such fulfillment be one of the tests of a true prophet, according to rule five? - Not at all. In this rule six we are counseled to watch the nature of his testimony, whether it draws us nearer to the Lord, or away from him. Virtually, we are counseled to test the prophet by all the rules, and not decide that he is a true prophet because apparently he is in harmony with one rule. I say apparently, for the next question naturally arises, Where did he get his prediction of events to take place, if perchance he made a prediction? We understand from the Scriptures that anciently unprincipled men, false prophets, "stole" the words of true prophets, and passed them off as their prophecy, seeking thus to succeed with their deception.

The Lord, by the prophet Jeremiah thus speaks of their work: "I am against the prophets, said the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith." Jer.23:30,31. Instead of the Lord using their tongues, and speaking through them even while in the vision, they steal the words of the true prophet, repeat them as their own words received from the Lord, saying, "He saith."

That lying spirits of Satan thus seek opportunities to learn what is to come, and then go forth to tell it, or to pervert and deceive their subjects, is apparent from the case stated by the Lord's prophet Micaiah, respecting the spirit that was permitted to deceive Ahab's four hundred false prophets, as recorded in 2 Chron. 18:18-24.

The Lord has told his people in these times that "the devil is a careful student of the prophecies of the Bible." And why is this? Is it to learn the truth that he may help on the work of the Lord? - No, by no means, but rather that he may tell some of these things that are coming, -having stolen them from the Lord's prophets,- thus making it appear that his prophets are true ones.

Satan closely watches events, and when he finds one who has a specially strong spirit of opposition to the truth of God, he will even reveal to him unfulfilled events, that he may more firmly secure himself a seat in his heart.. . . . During the experience of nearly six thousand years he has lost none of his skill and shrewdness. All this time he has been a close observer of all that concerns our race. - "Testimonies for the Church." Vol.II, pages 171, 172.

Again we read:-

Those who have bitterly opposed the truth of God, Satan uses as his mediums. To such he will appear in the assumed person and garb of another, it may be a friend of the medium. He will increase their faith by using the words of their friend, and relating circumstances which are about to take place, or which really have taken place, and of which the medium knew nothing. Sometimes previous to a death or an accident, he gives a dream, or, personating another, converses with the medium, even imparting knowledge by means of his suggestions. But it is wisdom from beneath and not from above. The wisdom taught by Satan is opposed to the truth, unless, to serve his purpose, he apparently clothes himself with the light which enshrouds angels. To a certain class of minds he will come sanctioning a part of what Christ's followers believe to be truth, while he warns them to reject the other part as dangerous and fatal error. - Id.

The wily adversary is called "That old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan." Rev.20:2. What is literally true of a serpent is true of Satan's teaching and work. A serpent's track is a meandering one. He can only travel by means of the wriggling and twisting of his body. Elder Mitchel, of Iowa, about two years ago told me of the catching of a "live and perfect snake." It was placed in a long straight box, open at each end, and a trifle larger than the snake, so that it was not in any way bound, and was so loose in the box that it could have been readily and easily drawn out by the hand. But it could not get out itself because of insufficient room to make the meandering motions of its body needful to its forward travel, consequently it remained in the box, and starved to death. So of the track of "the old serpent," the devil; while truth goes in the most direct line, Satan's course is a meandering one. Speaking of him, the Saviour said, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44.

Although Satan's prophets may do miracles; or may speak of things to come, by the aid of what they have seen take place (as the death of a person occurring at a certain hour), or tell of an event to come (of which they "stole" their knowledge from God's prophet), yet in applying all the rules to their case, it will soon be seen where they fail to be in harmony with the Lord's standard of true prophets, Satan will not teach submission to God's law, but rather the service of other gods, even though it be in the self - pleasing way of shunning the path of self-denial. RH December 12, 1899.

"BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM."

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

"BEWARE of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matt.7:15-20.

These words of the Saviour recognize the fact that the gift of prophecy would exist in the gospel age. If no true prophets were to be connected with the work, and every prophetic manifestation was to be from an evil source, would he not have said, "Beware of prophets"? The fact that he tells us so definitely how each kind may be known is the best evidence that in the work of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, in showing "things to come" (John 16:13), would be the true gift of prophecy.

This rule, which, in our enumeration, may be called rule seven, is an infallible one. Christ does not say, Ye may know them by their fruits; but, positively, "By their fruits YE SHALL KNOW THEM."

We inquire, What is the fruit to be seen in the work of genuine gifts of the Spirit of God? The answer is found in the statement of Paul respecting the purpose of the Lord in placing the gifts in the church: "Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. . . . And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity ["into the unity," margin] of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Eph.4:8-16.

Apply this rule to the prophetic gift that has been connected with the third angel's message from its rise, and what is the result? - We find that the continual instruction given through Sister White has been in the line of unity and harmony, admonishing to "counsel together" and to "press together," to be in unison with Christ, thus insuring true fellowship and union with one another.

Some of our opponents have sneeringly said, "If it was not for the visions of Mrs. White, which you have among you, your cause would have gone to pieces long ago." We reply, That is true; because from that source the Lord has given counsel, caution, and light, and thus dissensions have been removed, and the work of God has prospered. So what they designed as a thrust against the gift is in reality testimony that its fruit is that of the true gift of prophecy.

One prominent minister, when railing in a sermon against Sister White's gift, was asked this question by a Methodist woman: "Is there anything immoral in Mrs. White's writings that you are so much opposed to them?" He replied, "No! her writings are the highest-toned morality you ever read outside of your Bible." Another question was, "What kind of people are those who firmly believe and live up to her teachings?" He answered, "They are the most conscientious, godly people you can find; and there is just the danger in her writings: the reading of her books make such devoted Christians that people are led to believe that the visions are from the Lord." The remodeling of the rule given by Christ so as to read, The proof that a tree is evil and dangerous is the fact that the fruit it bears is good, would better please this class of divines.

One of the fruits of true gifts mentioned in the Ephesian letter is the gathering of a people into the "unity of the faith." What has been the result in this respect in the rise of the third angel's message? - Forty years ago, when our publications and work were all in the English language, when reference was made to the unity and harmony taught in the Testimonies, and existing among the believers, our opponents said, "That is very well now, while your work is all in a limited territory, and the believers are of one nationality; but should your work spread into different parts of the earth, and gather people of different languages, with their national peculiarities, you would see the unity disappear, and your work go to pieces."

Do we see it going to pieces? How is it? - The message is now printed, believed, and advocated in thirty-six of the leading languages of the world, and has gained a foothold at different places around the world twice, - both north and south of the equator, - yet there is the same unity and harmony among those accepting the Lord's counsel through the Testimonies as in earlier times. So the visions stand the test of rule seven.

In concluding these articles, let it be borne in mind that attention has been called to nine points of similarity between Sister White's visions and those described in the Bible; to six points of comparison in the practical work of true visions; and, lastly, to seven rules. In all of these twenty-two points, we find her visions in exact harmony with true prophets. In view of these facts, it is well for all to heed the admonition of King Jehoshaphat to the host of Judah: "Believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established; believe his prophets so shall ye prosper." 2 Chron. 20:20. RH December 18, 1899.

EXPERIENCE OF GOD'S PROPHETS

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

"WHICH of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers." Acts 7:52.

There are individuals who claim that the gift of prophesy can not be genuine if many of God's professed people reject or oppose its teaching. They reason thus: "If this manifestation and teaching be genuine; all the Lord's people will indorse it." If such were the case, the people of this age would be far different from those of past ages, whose course was "written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." 1 Cor.10:11.

Our initial text states how the Jewish people anciently treated God's true prophets, and other scriptures confirm the statement: "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes [often], and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy." 2 Chron. 36:15,16.

In our Saviours discourse on the mount, he said: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Matt. 5:11,12.

Who were the actors in that persecution? we inquire. They were professedly in the fold - in the church. This is vividly set forth in our Lord's parable of the householder, where he says, "There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a wine-press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. . .

"And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them." Matt. 21:33-38, 45.

In 2 Chron. 24:20,21, is found a record of one who suffered such persecution. "And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoida the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye can not prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord." See also Matt. 23:35.

Jeremiah the prophet also suffered persecution at the hands of those who professed to be God's people, as the following scriptures show: "Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words." Jer. 18:18.

Not content with simply using their lips, they next took a course to make him a "gazing-stock" to the people: "Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the Lord, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the Lord." Jer. 20:1,2.

And this severe treatment of the prophet Jeremiah was all because he continued to speak to them of the things that the Lord had shown him would come upon Jerusalem and upon that people. These reproofs and warnings they would not accept nor believe. Yet he still earnestly entreated them, which only increased their hatred. Hardening their hearts, they were prepared for greater cruelty to the prophet, as is recorded in the twenty-sixth chapter of Jeremiah: "Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets [false prophets] and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. . . .

"Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears." Jeremiah then said to them, "Know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets: This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God. Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people," saying that Micah, in the days of Hezekiah, had made predictions similar to those of Jeremiah; but Hezekiah did not put Micah to death. They spoke also of one Urijah who prophesied similarly to Jeremiah in the days of Jehoiakim, and the Jehoiakim had him put to death. With this pleading and the favor of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Jeremiah was kept from the death which the priests and false prophets had planned.

Notwithstanding the angry attitude of Jeremiah's persecutors, he tenderly entreated the priests, rulers, and people to head the Lord's counsel. This only vexed them the more, and strengthened their determination to destroy him. "Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison." Zedekiah, wishing to consult him, took him out of the dungeons, and had a private interview, whereupon Jeremiah showed him that his predictions were already fulfilling against those false prophets who had said, "The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land." Jer.37:15,19. So Zedekiah took him out of the dungeons, and put him in the court of the prison, and provided him with food.

Jeremiah faithfully instructed the people as to what course they should pursue when the king of Babylon should return with his army to take Jerusalem. The people reasoned with Zedekiah that Jeremiah's words weakened the people by teaching them that they should surrender to the Chaldeans. This reasoning so weakened Zedekiah that he said to the people, concerning Jeremiah, "Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do anything against you. Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire." Jer.38:5,6.

Ebed-meleck, and Ethiopian, "spake to the king, saying, My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city. Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. . . So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison. . . Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken." Jer.39:8,9,13,28.

Notwithstanding the fact that what Jeremiah had predicted was being accomplished before their eyes, the king left Jeremiah in bonds. Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, after taking Jerusalem, said to Jeremiah, "The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. Now the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said. . . And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hands. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee. . . Wither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. . . .So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land." Jer.40:2-6. (To be concluded) RH April 21, 1903.

EXPERIENCE OF GOD'S PROPHETS

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. (Concluded)

"YE build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." Matt.23:29-32.

Human nature is the same in all ages. "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom.8:7. Those in ancient time who were reproved for a wrong course of action in following the natural inclination of the heart, rebelled against the reproofs given them. These, their children in the days of our Saviour, were doing the same thing. The sinless life of Christ, and his reproofs of a pharisaical, self-righteous course, angered them, even as the teachings and lives of the ancient prophets had stirred the hatred of their fathers until Satan led them to take the lives of those holy men of God. Those who lived in Christ's time could see how their fathers had erred in the course they had taken. Their self-sufficiency, and hatred of reproof, led Stephen to say of them, "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." Acts 7:51. Paul referred to what Isaiah had said of that people, in these words: "The heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Acts 28:27.

Similar influence of unsanctified hearts will lead to a rejection of the instruction which the Lord sends to his people in these last days. A retrospective view shows how unwise it was, in the days of the ancient prophets, and in the days of Christ and his apostles, for the people to sit in judgment upon and reject the Lord's instruction to them, simply because it reproved them. Are we sure that we are not in similar danger? It is easy to admit the teachings of God's servants in ancient times, and easy to condemn their persecutors; but are we certain that we would have done differently in their circumstances? While it may be easy to believe that which is in harmony with our thoughts and plans, are we sure that we should not reject that which reproved our wrongs? "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jer.17:9. "Who can understand his errors?" Ps.19:12.

The natural heart does not love reproof, and consequently many have been led to reject the instruction which the Lord is giving to his people. This is plainly stated in the following quotation: "Many who have backslidden from the truth assign as a reason for their course, that they do not have faith in the Testimonies. Investigation reveals the fact that they had some sinful habit that God has condemned through the Testimonies. The question now is, Will they yield their idol which God condemns? or will they continue in their wrong course of indulgence, and reject the light God has given them, reproving the very things in which they delight. The question to be settled with them is, Shall I deny myself, and receive as of God the Testimonies which reprove my sins? or shall I reject the Testimonies because they reprove my sins?" - "Testimonies for the Church," Vol. IV, page 32.

Again: "Faith and love are golden treasures, elements that are greatly wanting among God's people. I have been shown that unbelief in the Testimonies of warning, encouragement, and reproof, is shutting away the light from God's people. Unbelief is closing their eyes, so that they are ignorant of their true condition. The True Witness thus describes their blindness: `And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked'".-Id., Vol. III, page 255.

A few months ago, in a place where for three days I had been speaking on the subject of spiritual gifts, and had presented more than a score of comparisons between the Scripture gift of prophecy and the manifestation of the gift among this people, showing that it met the Bible standard in every particular, an individual said to me, "I do not believe in that gift." I said, "Have you heard the proofs I have presented of its being genuine?" "Yes!" I then inquired, "What do you do with those proofs?" The reply was, "I don't do anything with them; but I don't believe in testimonies restraining appetite. I think a person should be free to eat and drink as he pleases." That one sentence explained the difficulty. Yet this same individual was one who professed to keep all the commandments of God.

In the fifty years past that I have been connected with this people, and have watched the Testimonies given, I have seen instances that in principle are like those recorded in Jeremiah's time. The people who were left in Jerusalem at the time of the captivity, wanted to go to Egypt instead of remaining as Jeremiah, who had the mind of the Lord, had advised them.

"Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, and said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseach thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the Lord thy God, even for all this remnant (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us); that the Lord thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. . . Then they said to Jeremiah, The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God." Jer.42:1-6.

After ten days this message came to them: "The Lord hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the Lord your God, saying, Pray for us unto the Lord our God; and according unto all that the Lord our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it." Jer.42:19,20.

We read of this still further: "And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him unto them, even all these words, then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: but Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon." Jer.43:1-3.

There are those who for various causes have been prevented from carrying out their cherished schemes and their special methods of working, who have said, "O that the Lord would speak through the gift of prophecy on these things!" When, at last, light in this way did come, contrary, however, to their ideas, they have said, "O, that is not the Lord's instruction, it is simply the opinion of the writer, who is influenced by some one not in harmony with my plan."

May the Lord help us to heed the apostle's instruction given for this time, "Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess.5:20.21. RH April 28, 1903.

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Heavenly Visions 6

JOHN NORTON LOUGHBOROUGH

ALL THIS CAME.

"SO IT WAS."

MIRACLES NOT A TEST OF TRUE PROPHETS.

PREDICTIONS OF FALSE PROPHETS.

"BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM."

EXPERIENCE OF GOD'S PROPHETS

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