The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

Rule Four—Suffering and Patience

In tracing this subject still further, we will take, as a fourth rule, the words of the apostle James: “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.” ¹² When we read of the experience of those ancient prophets we learn that one of the greatest of their trials was to see Israel reject, or go contrary to, the plain testimonies borne to them. A brief study of those times will show at once the character of both true and false prophets. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.” ¹³ GSAM 304.1

There is nothing in the writings of Mrs. White to make the reader vain; but, as expressed by another, “I have received great spiritual benefit times without number from the testimonies. Indeed, I never read them without feeling reproved for my lack of faith in God, lack of devotion, and lack of earnestness in saving souls.” Surely, then, the effect of Mrs. White’s testimonies is vastly different from that of the teachings of false prophets, as described by Jeremiah. GSAM 304.2

The prophet tells us also how false prophets will teach: “They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.” ¹⁴ GSAM 304.3

As to the nature of Mrs. White’s teaching in her testimonies, I will quote the following words from a careful reader: “I have read all her testimonies through and through, most of them many times, and I have never been able to find one immoral sentence in the whole of them, or anything that is not strictly pure and Christian; nothing that leads any one from the Bible or from Christ; but there I find the most earnest appeals to obey God, to love Jesus, to believe the Scriptures, and to search them constantly. Such nearness to God, such earnest devotion, such solemn appeals to live a holy life, can only be prompted by the Spirit of God.” GSAM 304.4

A careful observer of her testimonies from the first writes: “In the matter of plain and faithful dealing, without fear or favor, I desire to bear witness that there has been no lack. If base and evil motives were the controlling power in this work, flattering words would fill the place of searching testimonies and faithful reproofs. Plainness of speech, faithful reproofs for wrong, words of compassion and encouragement for the trembling souls who feel their need of the Saviour, and for the erring who seek in humility to put away their faults,—these are the things that have entered largely into her labors. The testimony of Mrs. White, reproving wrongs in the case of many persons whom she had seen in vision, has been borne with great faithfulness, and with the most excellent effect.” ¹⁵ GSAM 305.1