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speak we should not hesitate, whether men would hear or whether they
would forbear; and that we should press the matter through if it left
some outside the church and outside the truth. God has a great and
important work for somebody to do in-----, and at the right time it will
be done, and truth will triumph.
Those of our brethren who had not obtained an experience for
themselves in present truth could not answer the arguments of Brother
B, and although they could not receive the views advocated by him,
they were more or less affected by his talk and reasoning. Some have
felt no spirit of freedom when they met for worship. They were afraid
upon the Sabbath to speak out their real feelings and faith, expecting
that he would criticize what they would say. There has been death in
the meetings and but little freedom.
Brother B desires that others should look up to him as a man who
can explain the Scriptures, but I was shown that he is deceived and does
not understand them. He has started upon a wrong track in seeking to
get up a new faith, an original theory of faith. He would uproot and
misplace those waymarks which show us our correct bearings, that we
are near the close of this earth’s history. He may flatter himself that
he is being led of the Lord, but it is surely another spirit. Unless he
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changes his course entirely, and is willing to be led and to learn, he
will be left to follow his own ways and make entire shipwreck of faith.
Some have been so blinded by their own unbelief that they could
not discern the spirit of Brother B. They might have been helped by
him if he had been standing in the counsel of God. He could have
led them to the light instead of increasing their confusion of faith and
their perplexities. But he has been a stumbling block, a blind leader of
the blind. Had he made straight paths for his feet, the lame would not
have been turned out of the way, but would have been healed. He has
refused to walk in the light of truth which God has given His people,
and those who would walk in the light he has hindered.
He feels that it is an honor to suggest doubts and unbelief in regard
to the established faith of God’s commandment-keeping people. The
truth that he once rejoiced in is now darkness to him, and, unless he
changes his course, he will fall back into a mixture of the views of
the different denominations, but will agree in the whole with none of
them; he will be a distinct church of himself, but not under the control
of the great Head of the church. By bringing his views in opposition to