578
Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
is a violation of the plain injunction of Jehovah and works the deepest
injury to those who do it; for it deprives them of the blessing of God,
which is promised to those who deal honestly with Him.
We have found in our experience that if Satan cannot keep souls
bound in the ice of indifference, he will try to push them into the fire of
fanaticism. When the Spirit of the Lord comes among His people, the
enemy seizes the opportunity to work also, seeking to mold the work
of God through the peculiar, unsanctified traits of different ones who
are connected with that work. Thus there is always danger that unwise
moves will be made. Many carry on a work of their own devising, a
work which God has not prompted.
But, as far as the work has gone here in Battle Creek, there has
been no fanaticism. We have felt the need of guarding it on every
hand with the greatest care; for if the enemy can push individuals to
extremes, he is well pleased. He can thus do greater harm than if there
had been no religious awakening. We know that there has never yet
been a religious effort made in which Satan has not tried his best to
intrude himself, and in these last days he will do this as never before.
He sees that his time is short, and he will work with all deceivableness
[645]
of unrighteousness to mingle errors and incorrect views with the work
of God and push men into false positions.
In many of our religious awakenings mistakes have been made in
regard to confession. While confession is good for the soul, there is
need of moving wisely.
I have been shown that many, many confessions should never
be spoken in the hearing of mortals; for the result is that which the
limited judgment of finite beings does not anticipate. Seeds of evil are
scattered in the minds and hearts of those who hear, and when they
are under temptation, these seeds will spring up and bear fruit, and
the same sad experience will be repeated. For, think the tempted ones,
these sins cannot be so very grievous; for did not those who have made
confession, Christians of long standing, do these very things? Thus the
open confession in the church of these secret sins will prove a savor of
death rather than of life.
There should be no reckless, wholesale movements in this matter,
for the cause of God may be made disreputable in the eyes of unbe-
lievers. If they hear confessions of base conduct made by those who
profess to be followers of Christ, a reproach is brought upon His cause.