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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
The first defection, the apostasy and opposition of some of the
former brethren in the ministry, known as the Messenger party because
of their publication, the Messenger of Truth, brought sorrow and per-
plexity. Early counsels speak of this movement and predict its speedy
ending in confusion
.
Fanatical movements, tending to attract conscientious souls be-
cause of unfounded hopes of “sanctification,” appeared in various
places, notably in some of the Eastern States and in Wisconsin. In
some instances these teachings were accompanied by manifestation of
the supposed “gift of tongues.” But clear instruction was given to the
church which saved the cause from such deceptions of the enemy
.
The lapse of time and the apparent delay of the second advent,
with the accession to the church of many who had not been in the 1844
movement, with its deep spiritual consecration, had resulted in the loss
of that first love. It was a time of speculation in lands and homesteads
as the Western States were opening up to settlers, among whom were
a number of believers from the crowded Eastern States. Most earnest
warnings and appeals were given regarding the prevailing dangers of
conformity to the world, calling the church to deeper consecration
.
In the latter part of 1856 attention was called to the “Laodicean”
message of
Revelation 3
. Formerly this counsel was understood to
apply to the Advent believers who had not followed in the advancing
light of the third angel and who had organized themselves into another
church, bitterly opposing the Sabbath truth. Now they saw themselves
as “lukewarm” and in need of heeding the counsel of the true witness.
For two years or more the believers were mightily
stirred by this
[7]
message, expecting that it would lead them directly into the loud cry
of the third angel. The earnest messages in the Testimonies relating
to this movement can better be understood with a knowledge of this
background
.
It was an age of discussion and debates. Many of our ministers
were challenged to discuss the Sabbath and other truths, and some were
even taking the aggressive in such debates. This called for counsel
from heaven. One of our prominent ministers, Moses Hull, engaged in
debates with spiritualists, at first at their challenge, later at his. As a
result of this daring move he was swept into the mazes of spiritualism.
Then it was that Mrs. White published her “Communications to Elder
Hull,” making public letters that had been written to him during past