Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)
Ms 113, 1906
The Use of the Testimonies
NP
July 25, 1906 [typed]
Previously unpublished.
My answer to those who are asking questions regarding the proper use of the testimonies is that in the published testimonies they will find this matter clearly explained. The use that should be made of my writings is dwelt upon at some length in an article entitled, “The Nature and Influence of the Testimonies,” published in Testimonies for the Church, Vol. V, pp. 654-691. The prayerful study of this article will help many who are perplexed. From it I quote, as follows: 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 1
“‘The Lord reproves and corrects the people who profess to keep His law. He points out their sins and lays open their iniquity, because He wishes to separate all sin and wickedness from them, that they may perfect holiness in His fear. ... God rebukes, reproves, and corrects them, that they may be refined, sanctified, elevated, and finally exalted to His own throne.’ 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 2
“‘I have been looking over the Testimonies given for Sabbath-keepers, and I am astonished at the mercy of God and His care for His people in giving them so many warnings, pointing out their dangers, and presenting before them the exalted position which He would have them occupy. If they would keep themselves in His love, and separate from the world, He would cause His special blessings to rest upon them, and His light to shine round about them. Their influence for good might be felt in every branch of the work, and in every part of the gospel field. But if they fail to meet the mind of God, if they continue to have so little sense of the exalted character of the work as they have had in the past, their influence and example will prove a terrible curse. They will do harm, and only harm. The blood of precious souls will be found upon their garments.’” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 3
“‘Repentant sinners have no cause to despair because they are reminded of their transgressions and warned of their danger. These very efforts in their behalf show how much God loves them and desires to save them. They have only to follow His counsel and do His will, to inherit eternal life. God sets the sins of His erring people before them, that they may behold them in all their enormity under the light of divine truth. It is then their duty to renounce them forever.’ ‘If God’s people would recognize His dealings with them, and accept His teachings, they would find a straight path for their feet, and a light to guide them through darkness and discouragement.’” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 4
“‘I was directed to bring out general principles, in speaking and in writing, and at the same time to specify the dangers, errors, and sins of some individuals, that all might be warned, reproved, and counseled. I saw that all should search their own hearts and lives closely, to see if they had not made the same mistakes for which others were corrected, and if the warnings given for others did not apply to their own cases. If so, they should feel that the counsel and reproofs were given especially for them, and should make as practical an application of them as though they were especially addressed to themselves. ... God designs to test the faith of all who claim to be followers of Christ. He will test the sincerity of the prayers of all those who claim to earnestly desire to know their duty. He will make duty plain. He will give all an ample opportunity to develop what is in their hearts.’” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 5
“‘I was shown that in the wisdom of God the sins and errors of all would be revealed. All who are guilty are addressed in these individual testimonies, although their names may not be attached to the special testimony borne; and if individuals pass over and cover up their own sins because their names are not especially called, they will not be prospered of God.’” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 6
“In a vision given June 12, 1868, I was shown that which fully justified my course in publishing personal testimonies: ‘When the Lord singles out individual cases, and specifies their wrongs, others, who have not been shown in vision, frequently take it for granted that they are right, or nearly so. If one is reproved for a special wrong, brethren and sisters should carefully examine themselves to see wherein they have failed, and wherein they have been guilty of the same sin. They should possess the spirit of humble confession. If others think them right, it does not make them so. God looks at the heart. He is proving and testing souls in this manner. In rebuking the wrongs of one, He designs to correct many. But if they fail to take the reproof to themselves, and flatter themselves that God passes over their errors because He does not especially single them out, they deceive their own souls, and will be shut up in darkness, and be left to their own ways, to follow the imaginations of their own hearts. 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 7
“‘Many are dealing falsely with their own souls, and are in a great deception in regard to their true condition before God. He employs ways and means to best serve His purpose, and to prove what is in the hearts of His professed followers. He makes plain the wrongs of some, that others may thus be warned, and fear, and shun those errors. By self-examination they may find that they are doing the same things which God condemns in others. If they really desire to serve God, and fear to offend Him, they will not wait for their sins to be specified before they make confession and with humble repentance return unto the Lord. They will forsake the things which have displeased God, according to the light given to others. If, on the contrary, those who are not right see that they are guilty of the very sins that have been reproved in others, yet continue in the same unconsecrated course because they have not been especially named, they endanger their own souls, and will be led captive by Satan at his will.’” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 8
“Some who believe the Testimonies, have erred by urging them unduly upon others. In Volume 1, No. 8, is a Testimony bearing upon this point. ‘There were some in ------ who were God’s children, and yet doubted the visions. Others had no opposition, yet dared not take a decided stand in regard to them. Some were skeptical, and they had sufficient cause to make them so. The false visions and fanatical exercises, and the wretched fruits following, had an influence upon the cause in ------, to make minds jealous of everything bearing the name of visions. All these things should have been taken into consideration, and wisdom exercised. There should be no trial or labor with those who have never seen the individual having visions, and who have had no personal knowledge of the influence of the visions. Such should not be deprived of the benefits and privileges of the church, if their Christian course is otherwise correct.’” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 9
“Some of our brethren had had long experience in the truth, and for years had been acquainted with me and my work. They had proved the truthfulness of the Testimonies, and had asserted their belief in them. They had felt the powerful influence of the Spirit of God resting upon them to witness to their truthfulness. I was shown that if such, when reproved through the Testimonies, should rise up against them, and work secretly to lessen their influence, they should be faithfully dealt with; for their course would endanger those who were lacking inexperience.” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 10
“‘I saw that many have taken advantage of what God has shown in regard to the sins and wrongs of others. They have taken the extreme meaning of what has been shown in vision, and then have pressed it until it has had a tendency to weaken the faith of many in what God has shown, and also to discourage and dishearten the church.’” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 11
November 7, 1905, I wrote: “During the past night we were in a council meeting, trying to decide what we were going to do. One of authority stood up, and said, ‘Everything that has been given to ministers, to men in responsible positions, to teachers, to managers, to the different conferences, is to be repeated and repeated, because Satan is now doing a special work to make of no effect the Testimonies that come from God. We must work earnestly to bring this instruction before the people.’ 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 12
“I was pointed to the work that Moses did just before his death. Calling the children of Israel together, he rehearsed to them their past experience, their trials, their failures, and the warnings that had been given them. And Joshua, when the time came for him to lay down his work, called the tribes together, and recounted to Israel their history since they were called out as the people of God. 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 13
“Today we must rehearse the instruction that God has given to us as a people. The warfare between the forces of light and darkness is going on. Those who think that the powers of evil are asleep are very much mistaken. The enemy is constantly seeking to bring in things that will unsettle the confidence of God’s people. These things may appear very inoffensive, but they contain grave errors and dangers, which must be met. We must take our stand firmly in defense of the truth given us after the passing of the time. The Holy Spirit gave us an understanding of these truths.” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 14
And October 1, 1903, I wrote: “The light given me is that our churches must not be spoiled by the unchristlike course of unconsecrated men. I shall have to make more public than I have done my letters of reproof and correction, because those who are reproved make known those portions of the testimony that encourage them if they will follow the course outlined by God, and withhold the plain words of warning and caution. Such a course as this makes it necessary to present matters as they are, that the enemy may not be permitted to work his will upon our churches by leading them to suppose that Sister White’s Testimonies justify a man who wounds and bruises the souls of his fellow men.” 21LtMs, Ms 113, 1906, par. 15