66 A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White
and garments were torn, and whose countenances were the very picture
of despair and horror. They came close to me, and took their garments
and rubbed them on mine, I looked at my garments, and saw that
they were stained with blood, and that blood was eating holes in my
garments. Again I fell like one dead, at the feet of my accompanying
angel. I could not plead one excuse. My tongue refused all utterance,
and I longed to be away from such a holy place. Again the angel stood
me up on my feet, and said “This is not your case now, but this scene
has passed before you, to let you know what your situation must be, if
you neglect to declare to others what the Lord has revealed to you. But
if you are faithful to the end, you shall eat of the tree of life, and shall
drink of the river of the water of life. You will have to suffer much,
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but the grace of God is sufficient.” I then felt willing to do all that the
Lord might require me to do, that I might have his approbation, and
not feel his dreadful frown.
I have frequently been falsely charged with teaching views peculiar
to spiritualism. But, before the editor of the “Day Star” run into that
delusion, the Lord gave me a view of the sad and desolating effects
that would be produced upon the flock, by him and others, in teaching
the spiritual views. I have often seen the lovely Jesus, that he is a
person. I asked him if his Father was a person, and had a form like
himself. Said Jesus. “I am in the express image of my Father’s Person.
I have often seen that the spiritual view took away all the glory of
heaven, and that in many minds the throne of David, and the lovely
person of Jesus had been burned up in the fire of spiritualism. I have
seen that some, who have been deceived, and led into this error, would
be brought out into the light of truth, but it would be almost impossible
for them to get entirely rid of the deceptive power of spiritualism. Such
should make thorough work in confessing their errors, and leaving
them forever.
I recommend to you, dear reader, the word of God as the rule of
your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be judged. God has, in
that Word, promised to give visions in the “last days;” not for a new
rule of faith, but for the comfort of his people, and to correct those
who err from Bible truth. Thus God dealt with Peter when he was
about to send him to preach to the Gentiles. Acts x.