THE TESTIMONIES by Mrs. S. M. Swan

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · June 3, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 23

THE TESTIMONIES.

By Mrs. S. M. Swan

BY MRS. S. M. SWAN.

In these days of skepticism and unbelief in the gifts which God has bestowed upon his church, when we are so often accused of undervaluing the Bible because we believe in the gifts of the Spirit also, it is pleasant to meet with such testimony as the following from Mrs. Phebe Palmer, as published in the Way of Holiness:—

“There is no subject relative to which I have more ardently desired to be a living epistle, than in reference to the infinite importance, excellency, and comprehensiveness of the word of God. I do indeed regard it as a sufficient rule of faith and practice. I wonder why the absolute importance of searching the Scriptures, in order, by a careful study, to show ourselves approved in the sight of God, is not more urged from the pulpit and the press. We have no right to think that we shall be ‘thoroughly furnished unto every good work,’ to conceive ourselves otherwise than liable to be carried about by every wind of doctrine, without careful searching, and comparing of scripture with scripture, which surely implies something more than mere reading. And I most conscientiously believe that there is no subject relative to which the world of professing Christians, on waking up in the resurrection morning, will find themselves to have been more mistaken than in reference to this. The ever-unalterable principles regulating the government of God, as laid down in his word, are so distinct, compact, and comprehensive, that I have never yet, in all my experience, found one case but that has been touched, neither do I ever expect to find one; and were I expecting my pilgrimage to be lengthened out to the age of Methuselah, and temptations from the world, the flesh, and Satan to increase continually in poignancy and subtlety of invention, and spirits of darkness to thicken in numbers for the mighty conflict, I think I should not need any other shield or weapon than the word of God, the sword of the Spirit. But are we to reject all manifestations from God, or answers to prayer, that may be given in dreams or visions of the night? The spirit of the word settles this matter. From the earliest down to the latest period, God has spoken to his people in this manner. As well might we deny any other part of divine revelation as to deny this.”

After mentioning numerous instances in which the Lord spoke to the patriarchs and prophets in dreams and visions, she says:—

“But why enumerate? Most explicit declarations from God place the matter beyond doubt, ‘For God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed, then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.’ Job 33:14-17. Early under the Christian dispensation, God invested the

subject with still higher claims, if possible, upon the attention of man, by the declaration, ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.’ And yet the subject, though standing in such a commanding attitude, is seemingly liable to so much abuse, that it has become disreputable for God’s servants to say, in the present day, ‘God spoke to me in a dream or a vision.’ And why thus? Is it not because the Scripture (the plain, naked word of God) is not brought to the ordeal of a personal, diligent, careful investigation? Books of every diversity of sentiment and men of every manner of opinion are consulted, and then the precious, neglected, insulted Word is too often submitted to the ordeal thus erroneously begotten.”

Dear brethren and sisters, while we love the “blessed Bible,” while it is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path, let us not undervalue those gifts which have been vouchsafed as helps on our journey from this dark world of sin to the heavenly Canaan. If the apostles and primitive Christians needed these helps, how much more do we, amid the perils of these last days, when Satan has come down in great wrath, knowing that his time is short. Our kind Heavenly Father pities our weakness, and has given us the Testimonies, not to lie idle upon our bookshelves, but that we may study them, and thus be better prepared to resist our wily foe. I can testify from experience that they are profitable. I never read them without feeling an increasing desire for a closer walk with God. In reading testimonies of reproof to others, I often find much that I can take home to my own heart, and feel that I, too, need the reproof. If we who profess to believe that they are admonitions sent to us from Heaven, would conform our lives to their teachings, we should indeed be a “peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Thank God for the Testimonies.