Foundation of Our Faith
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are presented in so pleasing a way that unless care is taken, many will
be misled.
We need not the mysticism that is in this book. Those who enter-
tain these sophistries will soon find themselves in a position where
the enemy can talk with them, and lead them away from God. It is
represented to me that the writer of this book is on a false track. He
has lost sight of the distinguishing truths for this time. He knows not
whither his steps are tending. The track of truth lies close beside the
track of error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are
not worked by the Holy Spirit, and which, therefore, are not quick to
discern the difference between truth and error.
A View of Approaching Danger
About the time that Living Temple was published, there passed
before me in the night season, representations indicating that some
danger was approaching, and that I must prepare for it by writing out
the things God had revealed to me regarding the foundation principles
of our faith. A copy of Living Temple was sent me, but it remained
in my library, unread. From the light given me by the Lord, I knew
that some of the sentiments advocated in the book did not bear the
endorsement of God, and that they were a snare that the enemy had
prepared for the last days. I thought that this would surely be discerned,
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and that it would not be necessary for me to say anything about it.
In the controversy that arose among our brethren regarding the
teachings of this book, those in favor of giving it a wide circulation
declared: “It contains the very sentiments that Sister White has been
teaching.” This assertion struck right to my heart. I felt heartbroken;
for I knew that this representation of the matter was not true.
Finally my son said to me, “Mother, you ought to read at least some
parts of the book, that you may see whether they are in harmony with
the light that God has given you.” He sat down beside me, and together
we read the preface, and most of the first chapter, and also paragraphs
in other chapters. As we read, I recognized the very sentiments against
which I had been bidden to speak in warning during the early days
of my public labors. When I first left the State of Maine, it was to
go through Vermont and Massachusetts, to bear a testimony against
these sentiments. Living Temple contains the alpha of these theories.