“TO THE BATTLE CREEK CHURCH OF S.D.A.: Brethren — With feelings of my unworthiness and liability to run into the devices of the enemy of all good, I send to you the following confession. And although mere words cannot heal wounds that have been inflicted, yet I hope that by actions in the future I may cause the injuries inflicted to be healed.VEGW 140.1

“On the 16th of May, 1865, I visited your place to attend the General Conference, with my mind poisoned to a considerable extent against you, and hence I was on the lookout to see if I could not find something by which I might have the wherewith to reproach you.VEGW 140.2

“After the Conference, my mind being still more poisoned, when I arrived home I began to circulate impressions of what I had seen in Battle Creek, among my brethren in Iowa, such as that the church was getting proud, and fashionable, and were not following out the testimonies. I saw individuals with fashionable hats and bonnets, and artificials in them, but did not stop to inquire whether they were of Battle Creek or not, but in my state of mind conveyed the idea that they were all of your place. Since I have come into a position where I could stop and reflect and investigate, I am satisfied that said insinuations and reflections were wrong, and that I have by my influence placed you in a false position before the brethren of Iowa.VEGW 140.3

“Brethren, I have been deeply under the influence of Satan, and in this condition, I have done you a great wrong and wounded the cause severely, and while you were so kind in taking care of me and providing for all my wants, I was preparing to inflict wounds upon you.VEGW 141.1

“Oh may God in mercy pity and forgive me that great wrong. Of all wrongs committed, none are more flagrant than mercies abused. Oh how could I do so! Yet I did it, I did it!VEGW 141.2

“In order that I may place you in your true position before the brethren, let me say that I was in the wrong, and not you. I think I can to-day survey the critical position I was in. And although I have acted so cruelly and altogether unwarranted toward you, and while I would not extenuate myself, yet permit me to say that I was poisoned in my mind toward you, and blinded by prejudice. Yet I ought not to have been in such a position. I should not have given place to the enemy.VEGW 141.3

“And now may I hope that when you see in me a consistent course of conduct, and that I am trying to make amends for my faults, I may hope for your forgiveness, and to be restored again to your confidence. I will try to find out my place in the message, and struggle more earnestly to live out the truth. And may the Lord forgive me all my sins.VEGW 141.4

“To Bro. and Sister White I would say, I have also deeply wronged you, and caused you much anguish of heart and mind. I have listened to reports against you, and although while at Battle Creek enjoying your hospitalities, I had a good opportunity to talk with you about said reports, I waited until I came home, then began to spread them, thus alienating the minds of the brethren away from you. I did not stop to investigate them, and while you were far away I was trying to injure you. Oh, why did I do so! You had never harmed me in any way.VEGW 142.1

“On the 30th of June I went to Pilot Grove to meet you and Bro. Loughborough, not as brethren, but as enemies; and while there trying to fight my own way through, you fully sustained your reputation as honest, consistent Christians under the third angel’s message. Oh! I feel sad when I think how I have been working for the enemy. Can such wounds be healed! such stains be washed out! I am now fully satisfied that God is leading this people, and that the visit of Bro. and sister White, and Bro. Loughborough, was not only timely, but blessed of God, and under his guidance; and that great good has already resulted therefrom. I went there without any confidence in the testimonies of sister White, and also with doubts on our position in regard to the sanctuary. I would now say that my feet are taken out of the miry clay, and fixed upon the sure foundation of truth, the testimonies not excepted.VEGW 142.2

“And here I freely confess to you, that I have not only deeply injured you, but also the cause of truth. Words alone are a poor balm for wounds. But if you can still regard me as a brother, though an erring one, I will try to adorn the truth I profess, with a godly walk and conversation in the future. And may the Lord forgive me my sins, and strengthen me in every good word and work.VEGW 142.3

“To the brethren in Iowa I would say, My feet had well nigh slipped, and I was fast losing sight of the landmarks of truth. You that I have had an influence upon while in this state of darkness and doubt, I ask your forgiveness. And let me here say, that my experience, though a sad one, has taught me that to doubt this truth, and the instrumentalities used to bring it out by the Lord, is to speedily lead one into the enemy’s dark dominions, where he can be taken captive at his will. Oh, doubt not this truth. Fear not its ultimate results. Put not forth your hands to steady the ark, as I thought to do. And though angry waves may roll high, God will take care of this truth, and bless its upbuilders, and send confusion and weakness upon those who, like some people anciently, thought to stay the work of God. I shall try in the future to humbly follow on where the Lord may lead. Pray for me. “Yours hoping for eternal life, “W.H.B.” “Lisbon, Iowa, July 12, 1865.”VEGW 143.1

Reader, you now have this subject before you in all its aspects. You have seen from the foregoing pages the nature of the opposition brought to bear against the visions. You have seen the results of engaging in such a work from the confessions of those who have tried it. Judge now for yourself on which side truth, fairness, candor and the Spirit of God are to be found. Had these persons from whom we last quote, followed the light which was once more mercifully permitted to illuminate their minds, as evinced in their confessions, they might have again become firm and joyful in the truth. But rebellion entered into so deliberately, and from so little cause, is not easily cured. Well does the Bible liken it, 1 Samuel 15:23, to the sin of witchcraft. Hence in a short time after penning their confessions, they plunged again into their former condition according to an expressive proverb quoted by the apostle, 2 Peter 2:22. The prediction uttered by Mr. B., in the close of his remarks quoted above, that God would send confusion and weakness upon those who engage in such a work, has been strikingly fulfilled in the cases of himself and sympathizes. We counsel those who are inclined to doubt and waver, to take warning from these men, and beware how in word or deed they oppose this work, lest haply they be found to fight against God. If it is of men, it will come to nought; but if it is of God, those who endeavor to overthrow it, will only meet with a miserable and eternal failure.VEGW 143.2

From B. F. Snook