Solemn Dream
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“the cases of nearly all are met. The sins they are to shun are pointed
out. The counsel that they desire can be found here, given for other
cases situated similarly to themselves. God has been pleased to give
you line upon line and precept upon precept. But there are not many
of you that really know what is contained in the Testimonies. You are
not familiar with the Scriptures. If you had made God’s word your
study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian
perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies. It is because
you have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God’s inspired book
that He has sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling
your attention to the words of inspiration which you had neglected to
obey, and urging you to fashion your lives in accordance with its pure
and elevated teachings.
“The Lord deigns to warn you, to reprove, to counsel, through the
testimonies given, and to impress your minds with the importance of
the truth of His word. The written Testimonies are not to give new
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light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration
already revealed. Man’s duty to God and to his fellow man has been
distinctly specified in God’s word; yet but few of you are obedient
to the light given. Additional truth is not brought out; but God has
through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already given, and
in His own chosen way brought them before the people, to awaken
and impress the mind with them, that all may be left without excuse.
“Pride, self-love, selfishness, hatred, envy, and jealousy have be-
clouded the perceptive powers, and the truth, which would make you
wise unto salvation, has lost its power to charm and control the mind.
The very essential principles of godliness are not understood, because
there is not a hungering and thirsting for Bible knowledge, purity of
heart, and holiness of life. The Testimonies are not to belittle the
word of God, but to exalt it and attract minds to it, that the beautiful
simplicity of truth may impress all.”
I said further: “As the word of God is walled in with these books
and pamphlets, so has God walled you in with reproofs, counsel,
warnings, and encouragements. Here you are crying before God, in
the anguish of your souls, for more light. I am authorized from God
to tell you that not another ray of light through the Testimonies will
shine upon your pathway, until you make a practical use of the light
already given. The Lord has walled you about with light; but you