the nominal churches asleep upon the subject of the second advent,
dreaming of the world’s conversion. But the truth was clear, and in
the hands of devoted men, was powerful. Every where the message was
proclaimed it produced general conviction. The Scriptures were searched
as never before; a great revolution in religious belief took place
in a few short years; and at least fifty thousand in America alone,
became decided believers. The prophetic times in connection with that
message served their purpose, and terminated with that message. The
first angel’s message was a time message. The second and third are
not time messages. That aroused men in view of the fast approaching
Judgment. These tell them what they must do to be saved. And it has
been Satan’s grand object to institute numerous time movements among
certain Adventists since 1844, to contravene this work of preparation.
The passing of each time has weakened the faith of believers, and has
caused unbelievers to look upon Adventists with increasing disgust.
And confusion and irreligion have resulted from these spurious time
movements everywhere they have reached.
The title page of this work calls attention to the great Advent
movement as illustrated by the three angels of Rev. xiv. The truth and
work of God in this movement, commencing with the labors of William
Miller, and reaching to the close of probation, is illustrated by
these three angels. The first was a time message, and related to the
Judgment. The second described the condition of corrupted Christianity.
The third is a solemn warning relative to what men may not do, and
what they must do, in order to be saved at the coming of Christ. These
angels illustrate the three great divisions of the genuine movement.
They do not illustrate the numerous time movements which have appeared
since 1844; therefore, to say the very least, these movements were not
from Heaven.
Seventh-day Adventists hold fast the great Advent movement, hence have
use for the messages. They explain them in their sermons, treat upon
them in their books, and give them a place with the other prophetic
symbols upon their charts. They cannot spare these links in the golden
chain of truth, that connect the past with the present and future, and
show a beautiful harmony in the great whole.
Timeists, and in fact all Adventists who do not acknowledge the special
providence of God in the work of William Miller and his associates,
in 1843 and 1844, have no use for the three angels’ messages. They
do not introduce them into their sermons and printed expositions of
prophecy, unless it be to oppose us. They find no place for them among
the other prophetic symbols upon their charts. Indeed, they treat them
with all that neglect that would be justifiable, were they a wicked
interpolation by men who sought to corrupt the sacred Scriptures. And
no reason can be given why these men should pursue their fanatical
course in relation to definite time, and other fancies not symbolized
by the three angels, and therefore no part of the great movement, and
resist the truth of God for this time, unless it be that in consequence
of not receiving and retaining the love of the truth of the fulfillment
of prophecy in the Advent movement, God has given them over to strong
delusions. I repeat it. The three messages symbolize the three parts
of the genuine movement. That which has appeared not symbolized by the
three angels, though it be branded “Adventism,” is spurious.
Again, the sanctuary was the heart of the typical system. It was the
repository of the ark of God, in which ark his law was deposited.
By this law the people had the knowledge of sin. It was also the
place where they, in figure, found pardon for their sins through the
offerings there made. This entire system, with its great center, the
sanctuary, was but the shadow of the realities of the present system of
salvation. The shadow was on earth; the reality is in Heaven. The facts
are stated by the apostle in few words: “We have such an High Priest,
who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which
the Lord pitched, and not man.” Heb. viii, 1, 2. The sanctuary of the
new covenant, which is in Heaven, is the great heart of the plan of
redemption. There Christ offers his blood for the sins of men. In the
real tabernacle there are two holies, if there were two in the shadow.
In the holiest is the ark of God, containing the ten precepts of his
law, if they were in the holiest of the shadow. Here is a theme worthy
the attention of all Christians. And it is one in which they should
feel the deepest interest, as each has a case of eternal consequence
pending there.
The work of cleansing this sanctuary, at the close of the 2300 days, is
a subject which should materially interest all Adventists. It pertains
to the confession, pardon, and blotting out of sins. A correct and
intelligent faith sees the adorable Redeemer in the most holy of the
true tabernacle, offering his blood before the mercy seat for the sins
of those who have broken the law of God beneath it in the ark. True
faith reaches within the second vail, where Jesus and the ark of God
are seen. There, by the law we have the knowledge of sin, and through
the blood of Jesus we may find pardon, and share eternal redemption.
The subject of the cleansing of this sanctuary, then, is one of most
thrilling interest, especially to all Adventists. It is the key to the
great Advent movement, making all plain. Without it the movement is
inexplicable.
Seventh-day Adventists dwell upon this subject with great delight. It
opens to them the ark of God, in which is seen the ten precepts of his
law. They keep them. It presents Jesus before the mercy-seat, ready
to plead the cause of sinners, who in the spirit of penitence and
confession, go to him for help. They love and seek to obey him, so that
it is said of them, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.” They treat upon the subject of the sanctuary
in their sermons and books, and find a place for it among the symbols
of prophecy upon their charts. Seventh-day Adventists cannot spare the
subject of the sanctuary, as it is the great center around which all
revealed truth relative to salvation clusters, and contributes more
toward defining their present position, than any other.
But nominal Adventists treat the subject as one of no interest or
importance to them. Having in their own hearts abolished the ten
commandments, they have no use for the ark of God, and cast it aside as
an antiquated and unfashionable piece of furniture. Their sermons, and
their printed essays and expositions, do not refer to the cleansing of
the heavenly sanctuary, unless it be to oppose the views of Seventh-day
Adventists, and ridicule them, and ignorantly and contemptuously talk
of Heaven being dirty, and needing cleansing. And as in the case of
the three angels, you do not find the sanctuary represented upon their
prophetic charts.
But these we value above all earthly good, and make them prominent in
all our religious teachings, because the truth of God for this time,
or present truth, is in them. And for this reason those who “call
evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for
darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter,” cast this
subject from them, as unworthy of their notice, unless it be to oppose,
denounce and ridicule.
THE TONGUE OF SLANDER.
During the rise and progress of the third message, the tongue of
slander has not been silent. Men will use the best arguments they have.
When unable from the Bible to meet the positions of those who teach
unpopular truth, some will resort to slander as the next best argument.
The case is sometimes felt to be urgent and even desperate. Truth is
mighty. The people will hear, and some will obey. These are frequently
the best members of the various religious bodies. Efforts at argument
from the Bible, in opposition, fail to silence the voice of truth,
and in some cases turn the minds of many of the people to the truth.
Something must be done. And it is painful to record, that in many cases
professed ministers of Jesus Christ deal in smut and blacking, and
stoop to invent and repeat the vilest slanders to prejudice the people
against those who plead for the truth of God.
“There are hundreds of ministers in the United States who, if
disturbed in their quiet possession of the ears of the people, by the
proclamation of the unpopular truths of the third message in their
vicinity, would take delight in repeating the old threadbare falsehoods
concerning ascension robes, and the like, to cut off the influence of
the servant of God.
“In almost every place where our ministers give discourses upon the
second coming of Christ, and the necessary preparation for that event,
they have to labor against the prejudices of the people, caused by
reports of the inconsistencies of Adventists; one of which is, that at
a point of expectation in the past, many of them did prepare robes of
white linen, and put them on ready to ascend and meet their coming Lord.
“While all sane persons, who have any knowledge of what the holy
Scriptures do teach of the necessary preparation to meet the Lord as
he shall descend from Heaven, will agree that to prepare a literal
white robe made of cloth as a fitting preparation for the transit from
earth to Heaven, from mortality to immortality, must be an indication
of downright insanity, none will see in such an act evidences of
criminality.
“But I do not believe that anything of the kind ever occurred. I have
been actively engaged in the proclamation of the doctrine of the
second advent for more than twenty-five years, and have traveled and
preached in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa,
and Canada, and have not met a person who has seen an Adventist thus
attired, or one that was able to give better proofs that anything of
the kind ever did occur than vague reports. I have never found the
place where the thing occurred. It was always in the next town, county,
or State.
“Again, reports in relation to this matter, and slanders of a
similar nature, have a hundred times been denied in Second-Advent
periodicals, and proofs have been called for of the truthfulness of
these statements. No one has been able to produce the proofs. But still
the tongue of slander takes delight in repeating the old threadbare
falsehood. Elders Loughborough and Strong met it at Orange, Mich., in
January, 1868, and Elder Cornell met the same at Johnstown, Mich., a
few weeks later. In both cases the miserable untruth was declared from
the pulpit by professed ministers of Jesus Christ.
“The people, generally, credit the statements of these ministers, and
conclude that the story of ascension robes is true. Especially do
those who are not favorable to Second-Advent views enjoy this sort of
clerical slander. And the fact that our people are not always prepared
to meet it, is the reason why I have felt called upon to notice the
matter at this time.
“In 1847, while on our passage in a steamboat from Portland, Me., to
Boston, Mass., Mrs. W. was speaking to those around her in the ladies’
cabin, of the fearful storm we encountered in a recent passage between
these two cities. She spoke of the importance of being always prepared
for the close of our probation, either at death, or at the coming of
Christ. A lady near her replied:
“‘That is the way the Millerites talk. I mean to have a jolly good time
before I become a long-faced Christian. The Millerites are the most
deluded set on earth. On the day they were expecting Christ to come,
companies in different places put on their ascension robes, and went
into graveyards, and upon the tops of houses and high hills, and there
remained, praying and singing till the time passed by.’
“Mrs. W. then inquired of the lady if she saw any of these persons thus
attired. She answered:
“‘No, I did not see them myself, but a friend who saw them told me. And
the fact is so well understood everywhere, that I believe it as much as
though I saw it myself.’
“At this point another lady, feeling that the testimony of the first
should not be questioned, stated:
“‘It is of no use to deny that the Millerites did put on ascension
robes, for they did it in towns all around where I live.’
“Mrs. W. asked this lady if she saw them with their robes on. She
replied:
“‘No, I did not see them, as they were not in my immediate
neighborhood. But it was commonly reported, and generally believed,
that they did make ascension robes and put them on.’
“By this time strong feelings were evidently controlling these two
ladies, because Mrs. W. did not seem to credit what they said against
the Millerites. And the first in the conversation stated with emotions
of excitement and passion:
“‘I know it was so. I fully believe the testimony of those who have
told me these things. I believe what my friends have told me about
those fanatical Millerites, the same as though I saw it myself.’
“Mrs. W. then inquired of her for the names of some persons who had
figured in this fanatical movement. She stated if the putting on of
ascension robes was so very common, certainly she could give the names
of some. To this she replied:
“‘Certainly I can give you names. There were the twin Harmon girls in
Portland. My friends told me that they saw their robes, and saw them
going out to the graveyard with them on. Since the time has passed,
they have become infidels.’
“A school-mate of Mrs. W., who had never been an Adventist, was in that
cabin, and had watched the conversation with mirthful interest. She had
been acquainted with the Harmon girls during the entire period of their
Second-Advent experience. She could no longer restrain her feelings,
and broke out in a laughing mood, as she pointed to Mrs. W.:
“‘This is one of those twin Harmon girls. I have known them always, and
know that this report of their making and wearing ascension robes is
all a lie. I never was a Millerite, yet I do not believe that anything
of the kind ever took place.’
“The storm that was fast arising in that cabin suddenly abated, and
there followed a great calm. Mrs. W. then stated that all the stories
about ascension robes were probably as destitute of truth as this one
concerning the twin Harmon girls.
“Elder Josiah Litch, lately editor of the _Advent Herald_, Boston, in
his history of the rise and progress of Adventism, makes the following
statement:
“‘Those periods came and passed with no unusual occurrence. As soon as
they had gone by, a flood of scoffing, reviling and persecution burst
forth, not from the infidel world so much, but from the professed
friends of the Saviour; the most idle and foolish stories of ascension
robes, and going out into the graveyards to watch, going to the tops
of the houses, &c., &c. These were repeated again and again, both from
pulpit and press, until the public were, many of them, at least, almost
persuaded to believe them true.
“‘How, or where they originated, except in willful falsehood, we cannot
devise. Some of the reports of that character, we happen to know,
originated with professed ministers of the gospel, who gave date and
place, when there was not a word of truth in the whole story. Others
must have originated in a similar way.’”
The foregoing, relative to the ascension robes, was given in the
_Review and Herald_ for April 14, 1868. The article closed with the
following paragraph:
“Fifty dollars reward is offered to any person who will present
unquestionable proofs of the truthfulness of the statements, that
believers in the second advent of Christ, on the day of expectation,
did put on ascension robes. Those who can produce such proofs, are
requested to forward them immediately to the writer, at Greenville,
Montcalm County, Mich., and receive fifty dollars by return mail.”
Up to this date, July 13, 1868, no one has responded in the way of
furnishing proofs that anything of the kind ever took place. Why this
silence on the part of our friends, as well as our enemies, if there
be the least semblance of truth in the statements upon this subject,
gravely made by ministers in the desk as a part of the gospel they
preach? If proofs exist, why can we not have them? The reader should
regard these statements about ascension robes, which opposing clergymen
have the credit of repeating, more than any other class, as malicious
slanders, until he has reliable proofs that something of the kind
occurred.
The _Review and Herald_ for May 20, 1868, has the following from Eld.
J. H. Waggoner, which fairly represents this matter of ascension robes:
“Bro. White’s remarks on the falsehoods circulated on the above
subject, remind me of an incident that transpired some years since in
Wisconsin. A Mr. H., an M. E. preacher, deriding the Adventists, said:
‘It is a fact that they prepared and put on ascension robes in 1844.’
At the close of his remarks I stated that I was very anxious to learn
about the facts on that subject, and asked him to give particulars,
as to where, by whom, &c. He said that it was not always convenient
to give the evidence on matters which had transpired years in the
past, and he could not then comply with the request. I turned to the
congregation and said:
“‘He has said it is a fact. Now if he does not know it to be a fact, he
has made a false statement. If he knows it to be a fact, he can procure
the evidence of the fact. As he has an appointment here four weeks
from to-day, I give notice that I will be here at that time to get his
statement, as that will give him time to get the information. If it
occurred _anywhere_, it will be easy to prove it in that locality. I
hope the people will all be here to get the facts he may present.’
“Being thus pressed to make good his assertion, and having the
expectation of the people raised on it, he saw the necessity of doing
something, and promptly confessed that he knew nothing about it, but
had heard such a report!
“The way the report ran was well illustrated by the following case:
A Bro. T., who had lived and labored in Buffalo, and attended the
Advent meetings there, was working in Erie in the fall of 1844. After
the set day passed, the report spread in Erie that the Adventists in
Buffalo put on ascension robes. He was so grieved over their folly,
and troubled in his mind, that he determined to visit his friends in
Buffalo and talk with them about it. Landing at Buffalo, he met an
acquaintance, not an Adventist, who did not know where he came from. He
asked if any of the Adventists in Buffalo had put on ascension robes.
‘No,’ said his friend, ‘but they all did in Erie!’ A smile by Bro. T.
led to an explanation. And so it was everywhere. Everybody _knew_ it
was so--the _place_ where it occurred could not be found.”
The part which the Spirit of God has led Mrs. W. to act in close
connection with the cause of present truth, has called forth against
her a spirit of persecution. The apostle says, “Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you,
with all malice.” Eph. iv, 31. But these have been employed against her
by the professed followers of Jesus Christ, with the object to crush
her testimony and destroy her influence. In this cruel work, with some
the tongue of slander has been “set on fire of hell.”
The work of the Lord through her has been to encourage the weak,
comfort the desponding, exalt the standard of morality and true piety,
and reprove sin in all its forms? And why should not the dragon rage?
Why may we not expect to see those who are imbued with the spirit
of the father of lies, delighting themselves in the most slanderous
falsehoods against one who may be engaged in such a work? Such has
ever been the work of Satan in all past time, and ever will be, till
he is bound. And he has ever found, and ever will find, willing tools
to do his work in opposition to the work of God. And these are more
frequently found among ministers than any other class. The following
from Eld. M. E. Cornell, which occurred on his route from Battle Creek
to Ionia, will illustrate the wicked course of some of those who love
to be called “Reverend:”
“While on the cars, a circumstance occurred which shows the necessity
of Bro. White’s article on Clerical Slander. A Presbyterian minister
from Gratiot county was making special efforts to attract attention to
himself by his endeavors to amuse the passengers. Among other things,
he stated that Mrs. White had a vision at St. Louis, Gratiot Co.,
Mich., that she was to leave her husband and take another man; that a
man might have as many wives as he chose. He then made some, not very
refined, remarks and witticisms, which excited laughter in some, but
disgust in the pure-minded. In the cars were several clergymen, and
many intelligent ladies and gentlemen from several different States.
Of course we could not let such a base slander pass, and a wrong
impression go to so many different places; we therefore watched for a
chance to correct the misstatement.
“An intelligent Jew soon entered into conversation with him, and turned
the tables on him by relating an old slander against Martin Luther,
that he had a child by his own daughter, &c. The minister was aroused.
Said he, ‘It is a base slander, invented by his enemies. There is not
a particle of proof of any such thing.’ He then came down upon the Jew
with the most cutting reproof for making such a statement from hearsay
evidence. Now our time had come. The measure he had meted to others had
been immediately measured to him again.
“We then stated to the passengers that we had known Eld. White and his
wife for sixteen years, and that the statement made by the clergyman
was an unmitigated slander. First, Mrs. White never had a vision in
Gratiot county; and second, she never had a vision, anywhere, of any
such nature as had been stated. We then challenged him to stop at
Owasso, with any of his friends as witnesses, and we would secure for
him _one thousand dollars_, on the condition that he should make good
his statement. We urged him to the task with such earnestness, that all
in the car appeared to be convinced that he had uttered a slander. He
was embarrassed, and said faintly, ‘I heard so!’
“An intelligent Infidel, from Dearborn, Mich., then rose up, and made
some very pointed remarks on hearsay evidence and condemning a whole
body of people, because of a story about some one of their number.
‘Shall I,’ said he, ‘call the Methodists a set of cut-throats, because
several of their preachers are now in our penitentiary? Shall I condemn
all ministers, because one in our town ran away with Bro. M.’s wife,
last week?’ By this time, the tide was turned completely. Several of
the passengers expressed themselves very freely to me, and were anxious
to know more about it”--_Advent Review for April 28, 1868_.
I do not believe that all ministers who differ with us in faith and
practice are alike guilty with this man. No decent man, in or out of
the ministry, would take pleasure in uttering such vile slander before
a car full of ladies and gentlemen, however much he might feel opposed
to the religious sentiments of Seventh-day Adventists. I believe there
are God-fearing ministers in all the churches who would no sooner bear
false witness of a slanderous character against those who are devoting
their lives to the cause of Christ, than they would have the same
done to themselves. But while these may be few and far between, the
experience of a quarter of a century in teaching unpopular truth has
taught me that, where personal interest is concerned, there are but
very few ministers who will not stoop to the repetition of the vilest
slanders, to injure the influence of those who get the ears of the
people, if they differ with them. But in reference to the statements of
Eld. Cornell, I will say:
1. Mrs. W. never was at St. Louis, Gratiot County, Michigan.
2. She never had a vision in Gratiot County.
3. Her standard of morality ever has been the ten commandments.
4. Her views, her public and private labors, her books and oral
teachings, have ever been in strict harmony with the law of God, the
highest standard of morality on earth.
5. She has ever borne the most decided testimony against any departure
from the principles guarded by the ten commandments.