The Review and Herald, January 13, 1863.
Do We Discard the Bible by Endorsing the Visions?
By Uriah Smith
[INTRODUCTORY PASTORAL NOTE: We quote this 1863 article by Uriah Smith to illustrate the historical fact that even in the early days deceitful men or false shepherds [Ev 591], whom Satan uses as his mediums [Exodus 20:16; 7BC 963:2:4, or Letter 44, 1903; RH August 19, 1890], have historically misused the Bible, and the Bible alone statement or have historically misused the Bible, and the Bible only [GC 595] statement in a cunning effort to subtly make of none effect [1SM 48; or Letter 12, 1890] the inspired writings of Mrs. E. G. White by wickedly and shamelessly implying that her writings are not to be used to accept a doctrine or precept of religious faith. GC 595. Such deceitful men, or false shepherds [Ev 591], or satanic mediums [RH August 19, 1890]: (1.) predictably present only part of God's Word to those whom they wish to lead in false paths, withholding the part which would spoil their plans [Ev 591]; (2.) predictably misuse the Bible, and the Bible alone statement or the Bible, and the Bible only [GC 595] statement in an evil manner; and (3.) predictably do not finish reading the paragraph in GC 595 about the Bible, and the Bible only statement because this would then inconveniently expose their cunning efforts, especially when coupled with more from God's Word [1SM 32; Ev 591] or a plain Thus saith the Lord, as found in the Heaven-sent quotes below, as follows [i.e., all bracketed comments supplied]:
But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds [i.e., and/or the finite or numbered statements of fundamental beliefs, which are in and of themselves the very definition of forbidden creeds] or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority,-- not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain Thus saith the Lord in its In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a Thus saith the Lord. CM 126; or Letter 90, 1906.
My Saviour
declared me to be His messenger.
Your work,
He instructed me, is to bear My Word. Strange things will arise, and
in your youth I set you apart to bear the message to the erring ones, to
carry the Word before unbelievers, and with pen and voice to reprove
from the Word actions that are not right. Exhort from the Word.
I will make My Word open to you. . . .
Satan is . . . constantly pressing in the
spurious--to lead away from the truth. The very last deception of Satan
will be to make of none effect the Testimony of the Spirit of God.
`Where there is no vision, the people perish (Prov. 29:18). Satan
will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to
unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true Testimony.
1SM 32, 48; or RH July 26, 1906, and Letter 12, 1890.
In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a Thus saith the Lord. CM 126; or Letter 90, 1906.
There are
persons who have received the precious light of the righteousness of
Christ, but they do not act upon it; they are foolish virgins.
They prefer the sophistry of the enemy [i.e., they prefer the covertly
false, misleading, clever, and seemingly plausible-sounding reasoning of the
enemy; and/or they prefer the lying subtlety of the enemy] rather than
the plain Thus saith the Lord. . . .
Satan uses those who claim to believe the truth,
but whose light has become darkness, as his mediums to utter
his falsehoods and transmit his darkness [i.e., his heathen
darkness]. They are foolish virgins indeed, choosing
darkness [i.e., choosing heathen darkness] rather than light, and
dishonoring God. . . That which passes with many for the religion of
Christ, is made up of ideas and theories, a mixture of truth and error. .
. .
The state of the Church represented by the foolish
virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state. . . .
They profess to be wise virgins . . . Those who
profess to be Christians, but do not follow in the footsteps of Christ,
make of none effect His Words, and obscure the plan of salvation. . .
These professors of religion claim to keep the law of God, but they
do not keep it. RH August 19, 1890; or 2RH 419, 420.
Satan has called this world his territory. Here his
seat is, and he holds in allegiance to himself all who refuse to keep God's
commandments, who reject a plain, Thus saith the Lord. They
stand under the enemy's banner; for there are but two parties in the
world. All rank either under the banner of the obedient or under the
banner of the disobedient. 5BC 1119:2:4; or MS 41, 1898.
In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a Thus
saith the Lord. CM 126; or Letter 90, 1906.
Those who accept and obey one of His precepts because it is
convenient to do so, while they reject another because its observance would
require a sacrifice, lower the standard of right, and by their example lead
others to lightly regard the holy law of God. Thus saith the Lord
is to be our rule in all things. RH January 25, 1881; or 1RH 253:2:5.
True happiness in this life and in the future life depends
upon obedience to a Thus saith the Lord. . . . Let Christ's life be
the pattern. Satan will devise every possible means to break down
this high standard of piety as one altogether too strict. SD 43; or MS
67, 1909.
All should become familiar with God's Word; because
Satan perverts and misquotes Scripture, and men follow his example
by presenting part of God's Word to those whom they wish to lead in false
paths, withholding the part which would spoil their plans. All have the
privilege of becoming acquainted with a plain Thus saith the
Lord. . . .
There are false shepherds who will say and do perverse
things. Children should be so instructed that they will be familiar with
God's Word, and be able to know when part of a Scripture is read and
part left unread in order to make a false impression. Ev 591; or
Manuscript 153, 1899.
But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the
Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the
basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of
science, the creeds [i.e., and/or the finite or numbered statements of
fundamental beliefs, which are in and of themselves the very definition of
forbidden creeds] or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and
discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the
majority,-- not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or
against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or
precept, we should demand a plain Thus saith the Lord in its
support. GC 595, written in 1888.
In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a Thus
saith the Lord. CM 126; or Letter 90, 1906.
Thus, we quote in full the 1863 article by Uriah Smith, just
below, not so much to make an unqualified endorsement of Uriah Smith's
writings themselves; because, catastrophically, after 1863, in 1882, Smith
himself led out in helping to throw open the doors
for Satan to come in in that Smith
helped lead what came to be today's openly heathen church of the Laodiceans
[ST August 2, 1899] into their present-day apostasy in education by
supporting Prof. McLearn in creating a covetous desire for heathen
or worldly degrees and by thus opposing Bro. Bell, while Bro.
Bell was doing his enfeebled best to stand for the true principles
of Christian education, as opposed to heathen education,
as thus opposed to an openly heathen form of
godliness, as thus opposed to Sabbath polluting with heathen
idols and/or with heathen gods and/or with heathen
abominations, and therefore as opposed to the present vain
worship so nearly universal today. See Exodus 20:3; Ellen G.
White Pamphlets In The Concordance, Volume 3, pages 482-514; Micah
5:15; Leviticus 26:38; Matthew 15:9; PP 305-3-6, 336; 1 Chronicles 16:26; 2
Chronicles 36:14; Ezekiel 11:12; 16:1-2; 24:24; 30:1-3; ST December 5, 1895,
or 3ST 257; ST August 2, 1899, or 4ST 50; 7BC 970:1:2-7; ST August 12, 1889,
or 2ST 311:2:2; 1 John 1:6; 3:4; and 4BC 1161:2:2-3, or Letter 126. 1898 and
Letter 12, 1886.
Rather, we quote in full the 1863 article by Uriah Smith,
just below, when Smith had a firmer grasp on the truth, to illustrate the
historical fact that even in the early days deceitful men or false
shepherds [Ev 591], like today's William Grotheer and his misled
disciples, have historically and subtlety misused the Bible, and the Bible
alone statement or have historically and subtlety misused the
Bible, and the Bible only [GC 595]
statement in a cunning effort to covertly make of none
effect [1SM 48; or Letter 12, 1890] the inspired writings of Mrs. E.
G. White by wickedly and shamelessly implying that her writings are not to
be used to accept a doctrine or precept of religious
faith. GC 595. Thus, what worse than dead supreme
nonsense [ST August 2, 1899; 1T 297-298] it is to subtlety and
covertly misuse the Spirit of prophecy [Rev. 19:10]
quote itself from GC 595 on the Bible, and the
Bible only [GC 595] and to thus be deceptively aiding
Satan in making the Spirit of Prophecy itself of
none effect! Revelation 19:10; 4T 87; and 1SM 48, or Letter
23, 1890. Such a subtle and covert misuse of the Spirit of
prophecy [Rev. 19:10] itself is especially worse than
dead supreme nonsense or most absurd
[ST August 2, 1899; 1T 297-298]; because, the Bible itself teaches
us about the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy, which is
in fact the Testimony of Jesus itself, and which is
in fact embodied in the inspired writings of Mrs. E. G. White. Revelation
19:10; 1SM 32, 48; GC 595; and CM 126. Therefore, rather than one subtly and
covertly seeking to make of none effect [1SM
48; or Letter 12, 1890] the inspired writings of Mrs. E. G. White by the
insulting, but cunning, sophistry [RH August 19, 1890] of
presumptuously misusing these very same inspired writings themselves to
wickedly imply that the inspired writings of Mrs. E. G. White should not be
used by others, that one should rather truly accept the Bible,
and the Bible only [GC 595] statement which
they are covertly and falsely misusing, and then that one will also truly
accept and adamantly defend Mrs. E. G. White's inspired writings, and/or the
Spirit of Prophecy, and/or the Testimony
of Jesus. See Revelation 19:10; and 1SM 32, or RH July 26, 1906.
Just now, then, let's take note of Uriah Smith's historical
1863 article, which informs us of the covert and historical misuse of the
words, the Bible, and the Bible alone.
RH January 13, 1863. By the way, Uriah Smith's historical 1863 article,
quoted in full immediately below, was written and published when the
esteemed James White himself was the Editor of The Review And Herald. This
bracketed and INTRODUCTORY PASTORAL NOTE was written by Pastor Michael O.
Hodges.]
The Review and Herald, January 13, 1863.
Do We Discard the Bible by Endorsing the Visions?
By Uriah Smith
The Bible, and the Bible alone, The Bible in its
purity, The Bible a sufficient and only reliable rule of life, etc.,
etc., is now the great cry of those who are giving vent to their opposition
to the visions, and are working with their might to prejudice others against
them. This course reminds us of the low tricks and maneuvers resorted to by
political demagogues to gain their nefarious ends. It is similar to the game
played by the democratic party in the last election, which led to results in
many States so disastrous to the Republicans, and to the country. Their cry
was, Our country before party; and thus under the garb of supreme devotion
to the country, to the exclusion of all other considerations, many
honest-hearted ones were deceived into co-operation with them, and they were
enabled to place in positions of trust and power, men full of depravity and
corruption. Such are unworthy weapons in the hands of Christians; yet some,
we are sorry to say, who profess that name, do not hesitate to use
them.
The Protestant principle, of The Bible and the Bible
alone, is of itself good and true; and we stand upon it as firmly as
any one can; but when re-iterated in connection with outspoken denunciations
of the visions, it has a specious appearance for evil. So used, it contains
a covert insinuation, most effectually calculated to warp the judgment of
the unguarded, that to believe the visions is to leave the Bible, and to
cling to the Bible, is to discard the visions. For the sake of those who may
be liable to be misled by such a course, let us give it a moment's candid
examination.
1. When we claim to stand on the Bible and the Bible
alone, we bind ourselves to receive, unequivocally and fully, all that
the Bible teaches. This being a self-evident proposition, we pass on to
inquire what the Bible teaches concerning the outpouring of the Spirit, its
operations, the gift of prophecy, visions, etc.
It is the prerogative of this dispensation over all others,
to rejoice in the outpouring of the Spirit. It is called emphatically a
dispensation in which we have the ministration of the Spirit. The prophecy
which gleamed like a star of hope before the ancient prophets, was this:
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of
My Spirit upon all flesh. This prophecy applies to this dispensation, and
its fulfillment commenced, but only commenced, on the day of Pentecost. And
what follows the outpouring of the Spirit? Your sons and your daughters
shall prophecy. The very next announcement after the fact that the Spirit
was to be given, is that the gift of prophecy will be exercised. Now just so
sure as one part of the prophecy is fulfilled, and God grants His Spirit to
His people, just so sure the other part will be fulfilled, and prophesyings,
dreams, and visions, will be manifested in their midst; for they are
connected together, one and inseparable.
Further, we find Christ giving to His disciples as the best
legacy He could leave His church, the promise of the Spirit of truth, or
Comforter, to be with them and lead them into all truth. He gave them this
as the promise best calculated to comfort their sorrowful hearts in view of
His separation from them. The next most desirable object to His personal
presence, would be the presence and operation of His Spirit.
Again, we find emblazoned as it were in golden characters on
the very face and front of much of the New-Testament record, the fact that
God has placed, set, and established in His church, the gifts of His Spirit.
It is declared to be the one Spirit of God, with a diversity of operations.
And these results will follow the presence of the Spirit of God, as surely
as effect follows cause. As the engine moves on the application of steam, or
the water-wheel revolves under the impulse of the waterfall, so the gifts of
the church, prominent among which are visions, will inevitably follow the
operation of the Spirit of God with power.
So that if we believe in the Spirit at all, we must believe in these, the
appointed channels through which God has told us that it shall manifest
itself.
2. What is the object of these gifts? Christ explicitly
informs us that they are given to comfort His people, and lead them into
truth; and the apostle responds, for the perfecting of the saints, to aid in
the work of the ministry, to edify the body of Christ, to bring us into the
unity of the faith. Most glorious and desirable objects; and criminally
indifferent to his own spiritual interests must that person be, who is not
reaching forward to them with all his heart, or who would oppose any of the
means by which God would help us to attain them.
3. How long were these gifts to continue? (1.) The prophet
declared that they should be given for the last days; but if they are
withdrawn for any time before the very last day, this statement cannot be
true; for they must cover all the intervening ground, from the time they are
placed in the church till the last day comes -- till the close of this
dispensation. (2.) The necessity which led God to place them in the church
at first, is a necessity which has existed all along till the present time,
and will exist till the close of the present state of the Church's pupilage;
and no one, we have charity to believe, will be disposed to accuse the
divine wisdom withdrawing the means given to supply a certain necessity,
while that necessity exists. We accordingly find Paul declaring explicitly
that these things shall continue till the perfect state is come. 1 Cor.
XIII.
So far then all is established and plain. We have seen that
there would be manifestations of the Spirit, including visions, in the
church, and that they should continue till the end. But perhaps the objector
may make one more stand behind such a position as this: I admit that there
were to be visions among God's people before the end, but I cannot endorse
the ones already manifested. If the one who thus objects is with us, in all
the conclusions we have reached thus far in this article, as he must be if
he stands upon his acknowledged position of the Bible and the Bible
alone, this point will not detain us long. We need not remind him that
in all questions between opinions and institutions, there is a presumption
in favor of the old opinion and established usage; and he who attacks the
question, assumes the burden of proof; and unless he can bring proof to the
contrary, the old opinion and institution must stand. Tappan, p.
427. Apply this principle to the question in hand: From the very
commencement of the third angel's message, there have been visions among us.
They have been received by the body as genuine manifestations of the Spirit
of God. They have comforted the desponding and corrected the erring. They
have confirmed the doubting, and strengthened the weak. And the truest
friends of the cause have cherished and loved them most. It must be a
radical revolution, therefore, that would lead us to abandon these for the
uncertainties of the future. But as such manifestations were to be in the
church, the whole weight of evidence goes in favor of these, unless it can
be shown that they are positively and radically defective. How then shall we
satisfy ourselves on this point? The Bible gives us an infallible test for
all these things. By the law and the testimony, and by their own fruits,
we are to judge them. Whatever contradicts in no slightest particular the
law and the testimony, and in addition to this tends to elevate, enoble, and
purify, we may be sure comes from above, and not from beneath. But these
manifestations do in the strictest manner accord with the teachings of the
Word of God, and lead us to study and prize it. While we might safely
challenge the world to show a single instant where their influence has
tended to depravity and corruption, or where it has not on the other hand
tended to lead all who would receive them, to holiness and purity of heart.
On the supposition, now, that these are not the work of the Spirit of God,
as they must then be the work of the devil, we inquire, Has the Devil thus
fallen in love with truth and righteousness? Has he made a league with the
Word of God to sustain and uphold it? Has he so far lost sight of the
interests of his own kingdom as to lend his efforts to root out all false
doctrines from our belief, and all seeds of unrighteousness from our hearts,
that we may have truth without error, and live a life without sin?
In view of all these considerations, what shall we conclude?
Those who reject these manifestations, do so not only without evidence, but
against all evidence. Those who profess to stand on the Bible and
the Bible alone, are bound to receive what the Bible tells them will
exist, and commands them to respect.
One illustration may help to set this matter in a still
clearer light. Suppose we are about to start upon a voyage. The owner of the
vessel gives us a book of directions, telling us that it contains
instructions sufficient for our whole journey, and that if we will heed
them, we shall reach in safety our port of destination. Setting sail we open
our book to learn its contents. We find that its author lays down general
principles to govern us in our voyage, and instructs us as far as
practicable, touching the various contingencies that may arise, till the
end; but he also tells us that the latter part of our journey will be
especially perilous; that the features of the coast are ever changing by
reason of quicksands and tempests; but for this part of the journey, says
he, I have provided you a pilot, who will meet you, and give you such
directions as the surrounding circumstances and dangers may require; and to
him you must give heed. With these directions we reach the perilous time
specified, and the pilot, according to the promise, appears. But some of the
crew, as he offers his services, rise up against him. We have the original
book of directions, say they, and that is enough for us. We stand upon
that, and that alone; we want nothing of you. Who now heed that original
book of directions? Those who reject the pilot, or those who receive him, as
that book instructs them? Judge ye.
But some, through lack of perception, or lack of principle,
or the ebullitions of an unconquerable prejudice, one, or all combined, may
meet us at this point like this: Then you would have us take sister White
as our pilot, would you? It is to forestall any efforts in this direction,
that this sentence is penned. We say no such thing. What we do say is
distinctly this: That the gifts of the Spirit are given for our pilot
through these perilous times, and wherever and in whomsoever we find
genuine manifestations of these, we are bound to respect them, nor can we do
otherwise without in so far rejecting the Word of God, which directs
us to receive them. Who now stand upon the Bible, and the Bible alone?
Let no one then be frightened at this false alarm! A
moment's consideration will show who receive the Bible, and who do not.
Whoever receives it fully, will receive the pilot according to its
directions. We do not, then, discard, but obey, the Bible by endorsing the
visions; while we should just so far reject and disobey it, as we should
refuse to receive the provisions it has made for our comfort, edification,
and perfection.
U.S.
Pastor Michael O. Hodges
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