Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Chapter 106—Cutting and Slashing[613]“Cutting and Slashing” This expression is often used to representthe manners and words of persons who reprove those who are wrongor are supposed to be wrong. It is properly applied to those who haveno duty to reprove their brethren, yet are ready to engage in this workin a rash and unsparing manner. It is improperly applied to those whohave a special duty to do in reproving wrongs in the church. Such havethe burden of the work and feel compelled, from a love of precioussouls, to deal faithfully.From time to time for the past twenty years I have been shown thatthe Lord had qualified my husband for the work of faithfully dealingwith the erring, and had laid the burden upon him, and that if he shouldfail to do his duty in this respect he would incur the displeasure ofthe Lord. I have never regarded his judgment infallible, nor his wordsinspired; but I have ever believed him better qualified for this workthan any other one of our preachers, because of his long experience,and because I have seen that he was especially called and adapted tothe work; and also because in many cases where persons have risenup against his reproofs, I have been shown that he was right in hisjudgment of matters and in his manner of reproving.For the past twenty years those who have been reproved, and theirsympathizers, have indulged an accusing spirit toward my husband,which has worn upon him more than any other one of the cruel burdenshe has unjustly borne. And when he fell beneath his burdens, manyof those who had been reproved rejoiced, and from a mistaken ideaof my view of his case, December 25, 1865, were much comfortedwith the thought that the Lord at that time reproved him for “cuttingand slashing.” This is all a mistake. I saw no such thing. That mybrethren may know what I did see in the case of my husband, I givethe following, which I wrote and handed to him the next day after Ihad the vision:I was shown in vision, December 25, 1865, the case of the servantof the Lord, my husband, Elder James White. I was shown that God564