Chapter 105—Response From Battle Creek Church
We esteem it a privilege as well as a duty to respond to the fore-
going statements of Sister White. We have been favored with an
acquaintance of many years with the labors of these servants of the
Lord [Brother and Sister White]. We have known something of their
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sacrifices in the past, and have been witnesses of the blessing of God
that has attended their plain, searching, faithful testimony. We have
long been convinced that the teachings of the Holy Spirit in these
visions were indispensable to the welfare of the people who are prepar-
ing for translation into the kingdom of God. In no other way can secret
sins be rebuked and base men who creep “in unawares” into the flock
of God be exposed and baffled in their evil designs. Long experience
has taught us that such a gift is of inestimable value to the people of
God. We believe also that God has called Brother White to bear a plain
testimony in reproving wrongs thus made manifest, and that in this
work he should have the support of those who truly fear God
.
We have learned by painful experience, also, that when these testi-
monies are silent, or their warning lightly regarded, coldness, back-
sliding, worldly-mindedness, and spiritual darkness take possession of
the church. We would not give glory to man, but we should be recreant
to our sense of duty not to speak in strong and pointed language our
views of the importance of these testimonies. The fearful apostasy of
those who have slighted and despised them has furnished many sad
proofs of the dangerous business of doing despite to the Spirit of grace
.
We have been witnesses of the great affliction through which
Brother and Sister White have passed in the severe and dangerous
sickness of Brother White. The hand of God in his restoration is to
us most apparent. Probably no other one upon whom such a blow
has fallen ever recovered. Yet a severe shock of paralysis, seriously
affecting the brain, has, by the good hand of God, been removed from
his servant, and new strength granted him both in body and mind
.
We think that the action of Sister White in taking her sick husband
on her northern tour, in December last, was dictated by the Spirit of
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