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Prove All Things, May 27
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:15
.
In the work in which my husband and I were called by the providence of
God to act a part, even from its very beginning in 1843 and 1844, we have
had the Lord to devise and plan for us, and He has worked out His plans
through His living agents. False paths have been so often pointed out to us,
and the true and safe paths so clearly defined in all the enterprises connected
with the work given us to do, that I can say of a truth I am not ignorant of
Satan’s devices, nor of the ways and works of God. We have had to tax
every power of mind, relying upon wisdom from God to guide us in our
investigations, as we have had to review the different theories brought to
our attention, weighing their merits and defects in the light shining from the
Word of God and the things God has revealed to me through His Word and
the testimonies, in order that we might not be deceived nor deceive others.
We surrendered our will and way to God, and most earnestly supplicated
His aid; and we never sought in vain. Many years of painful experience in
connection with the work of God have made me acquainted with all kinds
of false movements. Many times I have been sent to different places with
the message, “I have a work for you to do in that place; I will be with you.”
When the occasion came, the Lord gave me a message for those who were
having false dreams and visions, and in the strength of Christ I bore my
testimony at the Lord’s bidding....
During the past forty-five years, I have had to meet persons claiming
to have from God messages of reproof to others. This phase of religious
fanaticism has sprung up again and again since 1844. Satan has worked in
many ways to establish error. Some things spoken in these visions came to
pass; but many things—in regard to the time of Christ’s coming, the end of
probation, and the events to take place—proved utterly false....
“Take heed therefore how ye hear” (
Luke 8:18
), is an admonition of
Christ.... Examine closely, “prove all things” (
1 Thessalonians 5:21
).... This
is the counsel of God; shall we heed it?
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