Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Chapter 47—Concealing Reproofs[234]I was shown the course of H and I. Although reproved, they havenot corrected their wrongs. The people of God, especially in theState of New York, have been affected by their wrong course. Theirinfluence has been injurious to the cause of God. For the last ten yearsthey have been often presented before me in vision, their wrongs havebeen shown me, and I have written to them concerning these things.But they were careful to conceal from their brethren the fact that theyhad been reproved, fearing it would have a tendency to destroy theirinfluence. Those who were affected by their wrong course, shouldhave been benefited by the reproofs which they received. I shouldhave placed these messages in the hands of judicious brethren in thechurch, that if necessary, all might understand the instruction the Lordsaw fit to give His people. But when I related the messages given mefor these brethren to anyone but themselves, they censured me in themost unsparing manner. This caused me so much suffering of mindthat I have been led to conceal what the Lord has given me in regardto the wrongs of individuals.It was pride of heart which led these brethren to manifest so muchfear lest others should know that they had been corrected. If they hadhumbly confessed their wrongs to the church, they would have actedout the faith they professed to have in the visions, and the church wouldhave been strengthened to receive correction and confess their faults.These teachers stood in the way of the flock. They set them a wrongexample, and the church have looked to them, and when reproved haveinquired: “Why have not these ministers been reproved, when we arefollowing their teachings?” A door has thus been opened for Satan totempt them as to the truthfulness of the visions.The brethren have been deceived and wronged. They believedthat we were in union with these teachers, and followed their instructions,when they were all wrong. I have written to these ministers inanguish of spirit as I have seen the cause of God wounded by theirinjudicious course. How anxiously have I watched the effect of these226