BEWARE! OF HYPNOTISM AND PSYCHOLOGY! 2Part 2- BEWARE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND HYPNOTISM Part 1 - THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY ON THE DANGERS OF HYPNOTISM IN THESE LAST DAYS
This is a companion tract to a ten-part tract set in our Waymarks Series, A
New Crisis Confronts Us: Hypnotism Enters the Adventist Church - on our
companion web, which documents the astounding invasion of training courses
in hypnotism, which are being given to our workers and church members all
across North America.
Physicians and psychologists say that, under hypnosis, "latent forces"
within mankind are released which produce healing. But this is not true.
"Psychic healing is not a part of the natural or latent capacities of man.
It is a distinctly supernatural, spiritistic power and carries grave
consequences both for those who practice it [the hypnotizers] and those
healed by it [the hypnotized]. Those who practice it may have no indication
that spirit entities are the real source of the power, but that does not
reduce their own responsibility for the spiritual and psychological
destruction of those they heal. There is always a high price to pay when
contacting forces alien to God." John Walden and Zola Levitt. Psychic
Healing, 1982, p. 110.
At the direction of the operator, under hypnosis the subject will
accurately describe homes of named people in distant cities which he has
never seen, and he will give dates and events from earlier history, which
are confirmed by research into history books. All this comes from
supernatural forces; it was not within the ability of the hypnotized subject
to produce this information of himself.
Hypnosis is exceedingly dangerous, and it has been known to be dangerous for
over a century. It is the control of one mind by another!
"In hypnotism we have a 'silent and mysterious force,' which usurps the
place of the Creator and enables one man to seize on its very throne the
will of another man and make him conform to his slightest wish in every act
and feeling' [quoting a hypnotist). Surety no man has any right to make such
a surrender of his will, to so place himself under the power and will of
another; and just so surely has no man the right to usurp such power over
the mind and will of another. Such power belongs alone to God, for He only
can safely hold such power.
"Nor is it necessary in all cases that the subject make a conscious
surrender of his will to the operator. LW. DeLaurence, professional
hypnotist and magnetic healer, in his book, Hypnotism, under the head,
"People Hypnotized Against Their Will," says: 'There is a way in which a
shrewd hypnotist can suceed in putting people under the influence who really
do not care to be hypnotized.' He then describes his method of entrapping an
unwilling victim, and concludes this: 'You can then proceed by a few
well-chosen suggestions to put him dead asleep and induce somnambulism or
trance in the regular way. He will ever afterwards be your subject if you
understand your business in giving posthypnotic suggestions [just before
bringing him out of hypnosis].' . .
"How fully the will power may be seized upon, and with what results, may be
seen by the following warning from a noted hypnotist of the better class. He
says:
“'The hypnotized may fall hopeless victims to the most criminal and harmful
actions, not only while they sleep, but after they have been awakened. .
There lies such infernal power in the hands of the hypnotizer that every one
ought to be strictly forbidden to meddle with hypnotism, except those who
are honorable and trustworthy. The hypnotized can by all kinds of
suggestions be made not only to harm themselves, but also others, and they
may even be irresistibly driven to any crime.' "-James Edson White, Past,
Present, and Future, 1909, pp. 338-339, 340-341.
Warnings from the Spirit of Prophecy
BEWARE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND HYPNOTISM "He who created the mind and ordained its laws, provided for its development in accordance with them." Education, 41 (1903).
"The true principles of psychology are found in the Holy Scriptures. Man
knows not his own value. He acts according to his unconverted temperament
of character because he does not look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher
of his faith. He who comes to Jesus, he who believes on Him and makes Him
his Example, realizes the meaning of the words "To them gave He power to
become the sons of God.' " Those who pass through the experience of true
conversion will realize with keenness of perception, their responsibility
to God to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, their
responsibility to make complete their recovery from the leprosy of sin.
Such an experience will lead them humbly and trustfully to place their
dependence upon God." My Life Today, 176 (MS 121).
"When temptations assail you, when care, perplexity, and darkness seem to
surround your soul, look to the place where you last saw the light. Rest in
Christ's love and under His protecting care. . Entering into communion
with the Saviour, we enter the region of peace. "-Ministry of Healing, 250
(1905).
"When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in prayer; when
they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning; when the rich man
feasts in his palace, or when the poor man gathers his children about the
scanty board, each is tenderly watched by the heavenly Father. No tears are
shed that God does not notice. There is no smile that He does not mark.
"If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed.
Our lives would not be so filled with disappointment as now; for
everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of God, who
is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares or overwhelmed by their
weight. We should then enjoy a rest of soul to which many have long been
strangers:'-Steps to Christ, 86 (1892).
"Human knowledge of both material and spiritual things is partial and
imperfect; therefore many are unable to harmonize their views of science
with Scripture statements. Many accept mere theories and speculations as
scientific facts, and they think that God's Word is to be tested by the
teachings of 'science falsely so called' (1 Timothy 6:20). The Creator and
His works are beyond their comprehension; and because they cannot explain
these by natural laws, Bible history is regarded as unreliable. Those who
doubt the reliability of the records of the Old and New Testaments too
often go a step further and doubt the existence of God and attribute
infinite power to nature. Having let go their anchor, they are left to beat
about upon the rocks of infidelity." -Great Controversy, 522.
"Let us go to the Word of God for guidance. Let us seek for a ‘Thus saith
the Lord.' We have had enough of human methods- A mind trained only in
worldly science will fail to understand the things of God: but the same
mind, converted and sanctified, will see the divine power in the Word. Only
the mind and heart cleansed by the sanctification of the Spirit can discern
heavenly things”.-Gospel Workers. 310 (1915).
"I have been shown that we must be guarded on every side and perseveringly
resist the insinuations and devices of Satan. He has transformed himself
into an angel of light and is deceiving thousands and leading them captive.
The advantage he takes of the science of the human mind is tremendous.
Here, serpent-like, he imperceptibly creeps in to corrupt the work of God.
The miracles and works of Christ he would make appear as the result of human
skill and power.. "
"If he should make an open, bold attack upon Christianity, it would bring
the Christian in distress and agony to the feet of his Redeemer, and his
strong and mighty Deliverer would put the bold adversary to flight. He
therefore transforms himself into an angel of light and works upon the mind
to allure from the only safe and right path. The sciences of phrenology,
psychology, and mesmerism are the channel through which he comes more
directly to this generation and works with that power which is to
characterize his efforts near the close of probation.”-1 Testimonies, 290
(1862).
"For thousands of years Satan has been experimenting upon the properties of
the human mind, and he has learned to know it well. By his subtle workings
in these last days, he is linking the human mind with his own, imbuing it
with his thoughts: and he is doing this work in so deceptive a manner that
those who accept his guidance know not that they are being led by him at
his will. The great deceiver hopes so to confuse the minds of men and women
that none but his voice will be heard. "-Medical Ministry, 111 (Letter 244,
1907).
"The light of truth which God designs shall come to the people of the world
at this time is not that which the world's men of learning are seeking to
impart, for these men in their research often arrive at erroneous
conclusions, and in their study of many authors become enthused with
theories that are of satanic origin. Satan, clothed in the garb of an angel
of light, presents for the study of the human mind subjects which seem very
interesting and which are full of scientific mystery. In the investigation
of these subjects, men are led to accept erroneous conclusions and to unite
with seducing spirits in the work of propounding new theories, which lead
away from the truth."-9 Testimonies, 67-68 (1909).
"He who has a knowledge of God and His word has a settled faith in the
divinity of the Holy Scriptures. He does not test the Bible by man's ideas
of science. He brings these ideas to the test of the unerring standard. He
knows that God’s word Is truth, and truth can never contradict itself;
whatever in the teaching of so called science contradicts the truth of
God's revelation is mere human guesswork."- 8 Testimonies, 325 (1904).
"There are but two parties. Satan works with his crooked, deceiving power,
and through strong delusions he catches all who do not abide in the truth,
who have turned away their ears from the truth, and have turned unto fables.
Satan himself abode not in the truth; he is the mystery of iniquity. Through
his subtlety he gives to his soul-destroying errors the appearance of truth.
Herein is their power to deceive.
"It is because they are a counterfeit of the truth that spiritualism,
theosophy, and the like deceptions gain such power over the minds of men.
Herein is the masterly working of Satan. He pretends to be the saviour of
man, the benefactor of the human race, and thus he more readily lures his
victims to destruction. "- Testimonies to Ministers, 365 (Special
Testimonies, Series A, No.9, Sept 24, 1897).
"The magicians of heathen times have their counterpart in the
spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants, and the fortunetellers of today.
The mystic voices that spoke at Endor and at Ephesus are still by their
lying words misleading the children of men. Could the veil be lifted from
before our eyes, we should see evil angels employing all their arts to
deceive and to destroy. Wherever an influence is exerted to cause men to
forget God, there Satan is exercising his bewitching power. When men yield
to his influence, ere they are aware, the mind is bewildered and the soul
polluted. The apostle's admonition to the Ephesian church should be heeded
by the people of God today: 'Have no fellowship with the unfruitful ,works
of darkness, but rather reprove them' (Ephesians 5:11)"-Acts of the
Apostles, 290 (1911)
"We must keep close to the Word of God. We need its warnings and
encouragement its threatenings and premises. We need the perfect example
given only in the life and character of our Saviour. Angels of God will
preserve His people while they walk in the path of duty; but there is no
assurance of such protection for those who deliberately venture upon
Satan's ground.
"An agent of the great deceiver will say and do anything to gain his object.
It matters little whether he calls himself a spiritualist, an "electric
physician,' or a "magnetic healer.' By specious pretenses he wins the
confidence of the unwary. He pretends to read the life history and to
understand all the difficulties and afflictions of those who resort to him.
"Disguising himself as an angel of light, while the blackness of the pit is
in his heart" he manifests great interest in women who seek his counsel. He
tells them that all their troubles are due to an unhappy marriage. This may
be too true, but such counsel does not better their condition. He tells them
that they need love and sympathy. Pretending great interest in their
welfare, he casts a spell over his unsuspecting victims, charming them as
the serpent charms the trembling bird. Soon they are completely in his
power, and sin, disgrace, and ruin are - the terrible sequel.”- Christian
Temperance-and Bible Hygiene. 116, 1890.
"The apostles of nearly all forms of spiritism claim to have power to heal.
They attribute this power to electricity, magnetism, the so-called
sympathetic remedies, or to latent forces within the mind of man. And there
are not a few, even in this Christian age, who go to these healers instead
of trusting in the power of the living God and the skill of well-qualified
physicians."
"The mother, watching by the sickbed of her child, exclaims, "I can do no
more. Is there no physician who has power to restore my child? She is told
of the wonderful cures performed by some clairvoyant or magnetic healer, and
she trusts her dear one to his charge, placing it as verily in the hand of
Satan as if he were standing by her side. In many instances the future life
of the child is controlled by a satanic power which it seems impossible to
break."-Prophets and Kings. 211 (1917). (See 5T 193; Ev 609.)
"Satanic agents claim to cure disease. They attribute their power to
electricity, magnetism, or the so-called
sympathetic remedies, while in truth they are but channels for Satan's
electric currents. By this means he casts his spell over the bodies and
souls of men."-Evangelism 609 (Signs Mar 24. 1887).
"Those who give themselves up to the sorcery of Satan may boast of great
benefit received thereby, but does this prove their course to be wise or
safe? What If life should be prolonged? What If temporal gain should be
secured? Will it pay in the end to disregard the will of God? All such
apparent gain will prove at last an Irrecoverable loss. We cannot with
impunity break down a single barrier which God has erected to guard His
people from Satan's power."-5 Testimonies, 199 (1882).
"Side by side with the preaching of the gospel, agencies are at work which
are but the medium of lying spirits. Many a man tampers with these merely
from curiosity, but seeing evidence of the working of a more than human
power, he is lured on and on until he is controlled by a will stronger than
his own. He cannot escape from its mysterious power.
"The defenses of the soul are broken down. He has no barrier against sin.
When once the restraints of Goers word and His Spirit are rejected, no man
knows to what depths of degradation he may sink. "-Desire of Ages. 258
(1898).
"To many, scientific research has become a curse. God has permitted a flood
of light to be poured upon the world in discoveries in science and art; but
even the greatest minds if not guided by the Word of God in their research,
become bewildered in their attempts to investigate the relations of science
and revelation."-Great Controversy, 522.
"A minister once said that he could but think that Christ must have known
something about science. Of what could this minister have been thinking?
Science! Christ could have opened door after door of science. He could have
revealed to men treasures of science on which they might have feasted to the
Present time. But knowing that this knowledge would have been appropriated
to unholy uses, He did not open the door."-Medical Ministry, 116 (MS 105,
1901).
"That night in that boat was to the disciples a school where they were to
receive their education for the great work which was to be done afterward.
The dark hours of trial are to come to everyone as a part of his education
for higher work, for more devoted, consecrated effort. The storm was not
sent upon the disciples to shipwreck them, but to test and prove them
Individually..
"The times of our educating will soon be over. We have no time to lose in
walking through clouds of doubt and uncertainty. . We may stand dose to the
side at Jesus. Let none . . shirk one hard lesson or lose the blessing of
one hard discipline. "-Our High Calling, 56 (Letter 13.- 1892)
"Corruptions of every type, similar to those existing among the
antediluvians, will be brought in to take minds captive. The exaltation of
nature as God, the unrestrained license of the human will, the counsel of
the ungodly—these Satan uses as agencies to bring about certain ends. He
will employ the power of mind over mind to carry out his designs. The most
sorrowful thought of all is that under his deceptive influence men will
have a form of godliness without having a real connection with God. Like
Adam and Eve, who ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, many are even now feeding upon the deceptive morsels of error.” -8
Testimonies. 293-294 (1904).
"I have spoken distinctly regarding the dangerous science which says that
one person shall give up his mind to the control of another. This science is
the devil's own.”-Letter 130-112. 1901.
"In the treatment of the sick the effect of mental influence should not be
overlooked. Rightly used, this influence affords one of the most effective
agencies for combating disease.
"There is, however, a form of mind cure that is one of the most effective
agencies for evil. Through this so-called science, one mind is brought
under the control of another so that the individuality of the weaker is
merged in that of the stronger mind. One person acts out the will of
another. Thus it is claimed that the tenor of the thoughts may be changed,
that health giving impulses maybe imparted, and patients may be enabled to
resist and overcome disease.
"This method of cure has been employed by persons who were ignorant of its
real nature and tendency and who believed it to be a means of benefit to
the sick. But the so-called science is based upon false principles. It is
foreign to the nature and spirit of Christ It does not lead to Him who is
life and salvation. The one who attracts minds to himself leads them to
separate from the True Source of their strength.
"It is not God's purpose that any human being should yield his mind and
will to the control of another, becoming a passive Instrument in his hands.
No one is to merge his Individuality In that of another. He is not to look
to any human being as the source of healing. His dependence must be in God.
In the dignity of his God-given manhood he is to be controlled by God
Himself, not by any human Intelligence.
"God desires to bring men into direct relation with Himself. In all His
dealings with human beings He recognizes the principle of personal
responsibility. He seeks to encourage a sense of personal dependence and to
impress the need of personal guidance. He desires to bring the human into
association with the divine that men may be transformed into the divine
likeness. Satan works to thwart this purpose. He seeks to encourage
dependence upon men. When minds are turned away from God, the tempter can
bring them under his rule. He can control humanity.”-Ministry of Healing.
241-243 (1905).
"No individual should be permitted to take control of another person's mind,
thinking that in so doing he is causing him to receive great benefit. The
mind cure is one of the most dangerous deceptions, which can be practiced
upon any individual. Temporary relief may be felt, but the mind of the one
thus controlled is never again so strong and reliable. We may be as weak as
was the woman who touched the hem of Christ's garment; but if we use our God
given opportunity to come to Him in faith, He will respond as quickly as He
did to that touch of faith.
"It is not God's design for any human being to yield his mind to another
human being. The risen Christ, who is now set down on the throne at the
right hand of the Father, Is the Mighty Healer. Look to Him for healing
power. Through Him alone can sinners come to God just as they are. Never can
they come through any man's mind. The human agent must never interpose
between the heavenly agencies and those who are suffering."-Ministry of
Healing (MS 105. 1001).
"There is something better for us to engage in than the control of humanity
by humanity. The physician should educate the people to look from the human
to the divine. Instead of teaching the sick to depend upon human beings for
the cure of soul and body, he should direct them to the One who can save to
the uttermost all who come unto Him. He who made man's mind knows what the
mind needs. God alone is the One who can heal. Those whose minds and bodies
are diseased are to behold in Christ the restorer. 'Because I live,' He
says, 'you shall live also.'
“This is the life we are to present to the sick, telling them that if they
have faith in Christ as the restorer, if they cooperate with Him, obeying
the laws of health, and striving to perfect holiness in His fear, He will
impart to them His life. When we present Christ to them in this way, we are
imparting a power, a strength, that is of value; for it comes from above.
This is the true science of healing for body and soul.” -Ministry of
Healing, 243-244 (1905)..
“The discipline of a human being who has reached the years of intelligence
should differ from the training of a dumb animal. The beast is taught only
submission to its master. For the beast, the master is mind, judgments, and
will. This method, sometimes employed in the training of children, makes
them little more than automatons. Mind, will, conscience, are under the
control of another.
"It is not God's purpose that any mind should be thus dominated. Those who
weaken or destroy individuality assume a responsibility that can result only
in evil. While under authority, the children may appear like well-drilled
soldiers; but when the control ceases, the character will be found to lack
strength and steadfastness. Having never learned to govern himself, the
youth recognizes no restraint except the requirement of parents or teacher.
This removed, he knows not how to use his liberty and often gives himself up
to indulgence that proves his ruin."-Education, 288 (1903).
"In matters of conscience the soul must be left untrammeled. No one is to
control another's mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty. God
gives to every soul freedom to think and to follow his own convictions.
'Every one of us shall give account of himself to God' (Romans 14:12). No
one has a right to merge his own individuality in that of another. In all
matters where principle is involved. 'let every man be fully persuaded in
his own mind' (verse 5). In Christ's kingdom there is no lordly oppression,
no compulsion of manner. The angels of heaven do not come to the earth to
rule and to exact homage, but as messengers of mercy, to cooperate with men
in uplifting humanity."-Desire of Ages, 550, 551 (1898)..
"Human minds are not to be trammeled and harnessed up and driven by human
hands.” -Manuscript. 43,1895.
"God permits every person to exercise his individuality. No human mind
should be submerged in another human mind. . For us to imitate the example
of any man—even a person who in our human judgment we might regard as nearly
perfect in character, would be to put our trust in an imperfect, defective
human being, who is unable to impart one jot or tittle of perfection to any
other human being."-Our High Calling, 108 (Letter 20, 1902).
"We are now to unify. . But let us remember that Christian unity does not
mean that the identity of one person is to be submerged in that of another,
nor does it mean that the mind of one is to be led and controlled by the
mind of another. God has not given to any man the power that some, by word
and act, seek to claim. God requires every man to stand free and to follow
the directions of the word. "-8 Testimonies, 212 (1904).
"You belong to God, soul, body, and spirit. Your mind belongs to God, and
your talents belong to Him also. No one has a right to control another's
mind and judge for another, prescribing what is his duty. There are certain
rights that belong to every individual in doing God's service. No man has
any more liberty to take these rights from us than to take life itself. God
has given us freedom to think, and it is our privilege to follow our
impressions of duty. We are only human beings, and one human being has no
jurisdiction over the conscience of another human being. Each one of us has
an individuality and identity that cannot be surrendered to any other human
being. We are individually the workmanship of God."-Letter 92. 1895.
"God alone is to be the guide of man's conscience. The truth is to be
preached wherever an opening is found for it. The Word of God is to be
explained to those who know not the truth. This is the work of God's
ministers. They are not to teach men to look to them, or to seek to control
the consciences of others. 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is
like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man
think that he shall receive anything of the lord. A double-minded man is
unstable in all his ways' (James 1:5-8)."-Letter 26, 1907. .
“We are prone to look to our fellowmen for sympathy and uplifting instead
of looking to Jesus. In His mercy and faithfulness God often permits those
in whom we place confidence to fail us in order that we may learn the folly
of trusting in man and making flesh our arm. Let us trust fully, humbly,
unselfishly in God." -Ministry of Healing, 486 (1905).
"Advocate the science of mind cure is opening a door through which Satan
will enter to take possession of mind and heart. Satan controls both the
mind that is given up to be controlled by another and the mind that
controls. May God help us to understand the true science of building on
Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer.” Our High Calling, (Letter 130, 1901).
“Interests most vital to you individually are in your own keeping. No one
can damage them without your consent. All the satanic legions cannot injure
you unless you open your soul to the arts and arrows of Satan. Your ruin can
never take place until your will consents. If there is not pollution at mind
in yourself, all the surrounding pollution cannot taint or defile you.
Satan cannot touch the mind or intellect unless we yield it to him.” -Bible
Conference, 1105 (MS 17, 1893).
"An acceptance of the truth of heavenly origin brings the mind into
subjection to Christ. Then the health of soul, which comes from receiving
and following pure principles, is revealed in words and works of
righteousness. The faith, which leads to this is not the faith which
believes in mind controlling mind till one person acts out the will of
another. Church members having confidence in this science may be called
sound in the faith, but it is not the faith of Jesus Christ. Theirs is a
faith in the work which Satan is doing. He presents gigantic errors, and by
the miracles which he works he deceives many. This work he will do more and
more. A healthy church is composed of healthy members, of men and women who
have a personal experience in true godliness."-Letter 130, 1901.
“In these days when skepticism and infidelity so often appear in a
scientific garb, we need to be guarded on every hand. Through this means our
great adversary is deceiving thousands and leading them captive according to
his will. The advantage he takes of the sciences, sciences which pertain to
the human mind, is tremendous. Here, serpent-like, he imperceptibly creeps
in to corrupt the work of God.
"This entering in of Satan through the sciences is well devised. Through the
channel of phrenology, psychology, and mesmerism, he comes more directly to
the people of this generation and works with that power which is to
characterize his efforts near the dose of probation. The minds of thousands
have thus been poisoned and led into infidelity.
"While it is believed that one human mind wonderfully affects another,
Satan, who is ready to press every advantage, insinuates himself and works
on the right hand and on the left. And while those who are devoted to these
sciences laud them to the heavens because of the great and good works which
they affirm are wrought by them, they little know what a power for evil
they are cherishing; but it is a power which will yet work with all signs
and lying wonders-with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. Mark the
influence of these sciences, dear reader, for the conflict between Christ
and Satan is not yet ended. .
“Neglect of prayer leads men to rely on their own strength and opens the
door to temptation. In many cases the imagination is captivated by
scientific research, and men are flattered through the consciousness of
their own powers. The sciences which treat of the human mind are very much
exalted. They are good in their place, but they are seized upon by Satan as
his powerful agents to deceive and destroy souls. His arts are accepted as
from heaven, and he thus receives the worship which suits him well. The
world, which is supposed to be benefited so much by phrenology and animal
magnetism, never was so corrupt as now. Through these sciences, virtue is
destroyed and the foundations of spiritualism are laid."-Signs, Nov 6, 1884
(2SM 351-353).
“The theory of mind controlling mind was originated by Satan to introduce
himself as the chief worker, to put human philosophy where divine
philosophy should be. Of all the errors that are finding acceptance among
professedly Christian people, none is a more dangerous deception, none more
certain to separate man from God, than is this. Innocent though it may
appear, if exercised upon patients, it will tend to their destruction, not
to their restoration. It opens a door through which Satan will enter to
take possession both of the mind that is given up to be controlled by
another and of the mind that controls." Ministry of Healing, 243 (1905).
"Satan tempted the first Adam in Eden, and Adam reasoned with the enemy,
thus giving him the advantage, Satan exercised his power of hypnotism over
Adam and Eve, and this power he strove to exercise over Christ. But after
the word of Scripture was quoted, Satan knew that he had no chance of
triumphing."-5 Bible Commentary, 1081 (Letter 159, 1903).
"Men and women are not to study the science of how to take captive the minds
of those who associate with them. This is the science that Satan teaches. We
are to resist everything of the kind. We are not to tamper with mesmerism
and hypnotism—the science of the one who lost his first estate and was cast
out of the heavenly courts." -Medical Ministry, 110-111 (MS 86, 1905).
"I am so weighed down in your case that I must continue to write to you,
lest in your blindness you will not see where you need to reform. I am
instructed that you are entertaining ideas with which God has forbidden you
to deal. I will name these as a species of mind cure. You suppose that you
can use this mind cure in your professional work as a physician. In tones of
earnest warning the words were spoken: Beware, beware where your feet are
placed and your mind is carried. God has not appointed you this work. The
theory of mind controlling mind is originated by Satan to introduce himself
as the chief worker, to put human philosophy where divine philosophy should
be.
"No man or woman should exercise his or her will to control the senses or
reason of another so that the mind of the person is rendered passively
subject to the will of the one who is exercising the control. This science
may appear to be something beautiful, but it is a science which you are in
no case to handle. . There is something better for you to engage in than the
control of human nature over human nature.
“I lift the danger signal. The only safe and true mind cure covers much. The
physician must educate the people to look from the human to the divine. He
who has made man's mind knows precisely what the mind needs."-Medical
Ministry, 111-112 (Letter 121, 1901).
'"In taking up the science you have begun to advocate, you are giving an
education which is not safe for you or for those you teach. It is dangerous
to tinge minds with the science of mind cure.
"This science may appear to you to be very valuable, but to you and to
others it is a fallacy prepared by Satan. It is the charm of the serpent,
which stings to spiritual death. It covers much that seems wonderful, but it
is foreign to the nature and spirit of Christ. This science does not lead to
Him who is life and salvation. .
"At the beginning of my work I had the mind cure science to contend with. I
was sent from place to place to declare the falseness of this science into
which many were entering. The mind cure was entered upon very innocently-to
relieve the tension upon the minds of nervous invalids. But, oh, how sad
were the results! God sent me from place to place to rebuke everything
pertaining to this science." Medical Ministry, 112-113 (Letter 121, 1901).
"I wish to speak plainly to you. You have entered upon a work which has no
place in the work of a Christian physician and which must find no place in
our health institutions. Innocent though it may appear, this mind cure, if
exercised upon the patients, will in its development be for their
destruction. .not their restoration. Second Timothy describes persons who
accept error, such as one mind exercising complete control over another
mind. God forbids any such thing. The mind cure is one of Satan's greatest
sciences, and it is important that our physicians see dearly the real
character of this science; for through it great temptations will come to
them. This science must not be allowed a particle of standing room in our
sanitariums.
“God has not given one ray of light or encouragement for our physicians to
take up the work of having one mind completely control the mind of another
so that one acts out the will of another, let us learn the ways and purposes
of God. Let not the enemy gain the least advantage over you. Let him not
lead you to dare to endeavor to control another mind until it becomes a
machine in your hands. This is the science of Satan's working." -Medical
Ministry, 113-114 (Letter 121, 1901).
“Brother and Sister N, in the name of the Lord I ask you to remember that
unless your sentiments regarding the science of mind cure are changed,
unless you both understand that you are in decided need of having your own
minds converted and transformed, you wilt be stumbling blocks-pitiful
spectacles to angels and to men.
"The truth has had but little influence over you. It is dangerous for
anyone, no matter how good a man he is, to endeavor to influence another
human mind to come under the control of his mind. Let me tell you that the
mind cure is a satanic science. Already you have gone far enough in it to
endanger seriously your future experience. From its very first entrance
into your mind until the present time, it has been a most injurious growth.
"Unless you can see that Satan is the mastermind who has devised this
science, it will not be as easy a matter as you suppose to separate from it,
root and branch. The whole philosophy of this science is a masterpiece of
satanic deception. For your soul's sake, cut loose from everything of this
order. Every time you put into the mind of another person ideas concerning
this science, that you may gain control of his mind, you are on Satan's
ground, decidedly cooperating with him. For your soul's sake, break loose
from this snare of the enemy. "-2 Selected Messages, 349-350 (Letter 20,
1902).
"Neither one of you should study the science in which you have been
interested. To study this science is to pluck the fruit from the tree of
knowledge of good and evil. God forbids you or any other mortal to learn or
to teach such a science. The fact that you have had anything to do with this
science ought alone to be sufficient to show you, Brother N, the
inconsistency of your being the leading physician in the sanitarium . .
"In dealing with the science of mind cure you have been eating of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil, which God has forbidden you to touch. It
is now high time for you to begin to look to Jesus, and by beholding His
character become changed into the divine likeness.
"Cut away from yourselves everything that savors of hypnotism, the science
by which satanic agencies work. "-2 Selected Messages, 350 (Letter 20, 1902.
"Remember that Satan has come down with great power to take possession of
minds and to hold them captive under his sway. Neither of you can do
anything acceptably to God unless you follow the Saviour, who says, 'If any
man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me' (Matthew 16:24). In all things Christ is our example."-Letter
20, 1902
"We do not ask you to place yourself under the control of any man's mind.
The mind cure is the most awful science, which has ever been advocated.
Every wicked being can use it in carrying through his own evil designs. We
have no business with any such science. We should be afraid of it. Never
should the first principles of it be brought into any institution. "
Medical Ministry, 116 (MS 105; 1901).
"Fearful is the power thus given to evil-minded men and women. What
opportunities it affords to those who live by taking advantage of others'
weaknesses or follies! How many, through control of minds feeble or
diseased, will find a means of gratifying lustful passion or greed of
gain!" Ministry of Healing, 243 (1905).
"Shall its managers consent to be the agents of Satan by publishing books
dealing with the subject of hypnotism? Shalt this leprosy be introduced
into the office? . .
"Satan and his agents have been and are working diligently. Will God give
His blessing to the publishing houses if they accept the deceptions of the
enemy? Shall the institutions which have been kept before the people as holy
unto the Lord become schools in which the workers eat the fruit of the
forbidden tree of knowledge? Shall we encourage Satan in his- stealthy
entrance into the citadel of truth to deposit his hellish science, as he
did in Eden?
"Are the men at the heart of the work men who cannot distinguish between
truth and error? Are they men who cannot see the terrible consequences of
giving influence to wrong? If you should gain millions of dollars by work of
this kind, of what value is this gain when compared with the terrible loss
that is incurred by giving publicity to Satan's lies?" -2 Selected
Messages, 350-351 (Letter 140, 1901).
"Satanic agencies are clothing false theories in an attractive garb, even as
Satan in the Garden of Eden concealed his identity from our first parents
by speaking through the serpent. These agencies are instilling into human
minds that which in, reality is deadly error. The hypnotic influence of
Satan will rest upon those who turn from the plain word of God to pleasing
fables."-8 Testimonies, 294 (1904).
"We have reached the perils of the last days, when some, yes, many, 'shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils.' Be cautious in regard to what you read and how you hear. Take not a
particle of interest in Spiritualistic theories. Satan is waiting to steal a
march upon everyone who allows himself to be deceived by his hypnotism. He
begins to exert his power over them just as soon as they begin to
investigate his theories." -Medical Ministry 101-102 (Letter 123, 1904).
"I have been shown that we are not to enter into controversy over these
Spiritualistic theories, because such controversy will only confuse minds.
These things are not to be brought into our meetings. We are not to labor to
refute them. If our ministers and teachers give themselves to study of
these erroneous theories, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. It is not the work of the gospel
minister to voice Satan's theories. Go steadily forward, building up the old
waste places and restoring the foundations of many generations. Present the
truth, sacred, sanctifying truth, and let the seducing theories of the enemy
alone. Give him no ground on which to plant the seeds of these theories. I
was warned to enter into no controversy over these matters. Let not our
ministers or teachers or students give their lips to the repeating of the
enemy's sophistry."-Letter 175. 1904.
"There are doctors and ministers who have been influenced by the hypnotism
exercised by the father of lies. Notwithstanding the warnings given, Satan's
sophistries are being accepted now just as they were accepted in the
heavenly courts. The science by which our first parents were deceived is
deceiving men today. Ministers and physicians are being drawn into the
snare."-Manuscript 79, 1905.
"'The experience of the past will be repeated. In the future, Satan's
superstitions will assume new forms. Errors will be presented in a pleasing
and flattering manner. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will
be presented to God's people. Thus Satan will try to deceive, if possible,
the very elect. Most seducing influences will be exerted; minds will be
hypnotized. "-8 Testimonies, 293 (1904)
"It was reported all around (in 1845) that the visions were the result of
mesmerism, and many Adventists were ready to believe and circulate the
report. A physician who was a celebrated mesmerizer, told me that my views
were mesmerism, that I was a very easy subject, and that he could mesmerize
me and give me a vision.
"'I told him that the Lord had shown me in vision that mesmerism was from
the devil, from the bottomless pit, and that it would soon go there, with
those who continued to use it.
"I then gave him liberty to mesmerize me if he could. He tried for more
than half an hour, resorting to different operations, and then gave it up.
By faith in God I was able to resist his influence, so that it did not
affect me in the least.” -Early Writings. 21 (1882).
"In New Hampshire (in 1848) we had to contend with a species of spiritual
magnetism, of a similar character with mesmerism. It was our first
experience of this kind."-Life Sketches, 79 (1915).
"It is not God's purpose that any human being should yield his mind and
will to the control of another, becoming a passive instrument in his
hands."-Ministry 0f Healing, 242 (1905).
"The mind cure must be free from all human enchantment. It must not grovel
to humanity but soar aloft to the spiritual, taking hold of the eternal."
Ministry of Healing, 110 (Letter 120, 1901).
"If Satan can so befog and deceive the human mind as to lead mortals to
think that there is an inherent power in themselves to accomplish great and
good works, they cease to rely upon God to do for them that which they think
there is power in themselves to do. They acknowledge not a superior power.
They give not God the glory which He claims, and which is due to His great
and excellent Majesty. Satan's object is thus accomplished, and he exults
that fallen men presumptuously exalt themselves."-1 Testimonies. 294
(1862).
"Satan beguiles men as now he beguiled Eve in Eden, by flattery, by
kindling a desire to obtain forbidden knowledge, by exciting ambition for
self-exaltation. It was cherishing these evils that caused his fall, and
through them he aims to compass the ruin of men. 'Ye shall be as gods,' he
declares, 'knowing good and evil' (Genesis 3:5). Spiritualism teaches
"that man is the creature of progression; that it is his destiny from his
birth to progress, even to eternity, toward the Godhead,' And again: 'Each
mind will judge itself and not another.' 'The judgment will be right,
because it is the judgment of self . . The throne is within you.' Said a
Spiritualistic teacher, as the "spiritual consciousness' awoke within him,
"My fellowmen, all were unfallen demigods.' And another declares, 'Any just
and perfect being is Christ'.
"'Thus, in place of the righteousness and perfection of the infinite God,
the true object of adoration; in place of the perfect righteousness of His
law, the true standard of human attainment, Satan has substituted the
sinful, erring nature of man himself as the only object of adoration, the
only rule of judgment, or standard of character. This is progress, not
upward but downward."-Great Controversy, 554-555.
"I was directed to this scripture as especially applying to modern
spiritualism: Colossians 2:8: 'Beware jest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments
of the world, and not after Christ.' . .
""Vain deceit' fills the minds of poor mortals. They think there is such
power in themselves to accomplish great works that they realize no
necessity of a higher power. Their principles and faith are 'after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.'
"Jesus has not taught them this philosophy. Nothing of the kind can be
found in His teachings. He did not direct the minds of poor mortals to
themselves, to a power which they possessed. He was ever directing their
minds to God, the Creator of the Universe, as the source of their strength
and wisdom. Special warning is given in verse 18: 'Let no man beguile you of
your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into
those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.'
"-1 Testimonies, 297 (1862).
"'He [Satan] has destroyed and is destroying thousands through the
indulgence of the passions, thus brutalizing the entire nature of man. And
to complete his work, he declares through the spirits that 'true knowledge
places man above all law'; that 'whatever is, is right'; that 'God doth not
condemn'; and that "all sins which are committed are innocent.'
"'When the people are thus led to believe that desire is the highest law,
that liberty is license, and that man Is accountable only to himself, who
can wonder that corruption and depravity teem on every hand? Multitudes
eagerly accept teachings that leave them at liberty to obey the promptings
of the carnal heart. The reins of self-control are laid upon the neck of
lust, the powers of mind and soul are made subject to the animal
propensities, and Satan exultingly sweeps into his net thousands who
profess to be followers of Christ. "-Great Controversy, 555-556.
"Lucifer desired God's power but not His character. He sought for himself
the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do
the same. Thus alienation, discord and strife will be inevitable. Dominion
becomes the prize of the strongest. The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of
force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his
own advancement, or a stepping-stone on which he himself may climb to a
higher place."-Desire of Ages, 435436 (1898).
"When God sent Moses to Pharaoh, he had light, but Pharaoh resisted, and
every resistance brought up a heavier stubbornness. Did God put a power upon
him that he could not turn to the light? No, it was indifference to
evidence. The stubbornness of Pharaoh was because light was shining that he
would not receive."-Manuscript 15. 1894.
"As you read the letters I have sent to Oakland, you will have some idea of
the stubbornness of the man and his determination to do as he pleases and to
have his own way. He has not heeded the counsels of the Lord but has
considered it safe to walk in the sparks of his own kindling. He will do
anything and everything to be a servant of the cause, but he will not do
the very thing that the Lord has signified is right to be done. If he will
turn traitor as did ____, he will doubtless do it under a great plea of
conscientiousness.
'"This pretense of conscientiousness has been pretty thoroughly
tested and proved. I speak understandingly when I tell you that I have very
little confidence in his conscientiousness. There is a good conscience and
a bad conscience, and the man is most thoroughly deceived in himself.
Under this deception he will do many things in his own spirit that are not
in harmony with the Spirit of God. Yet he will be as immovable as a rock to
counselor to any way except his own way." -Letter 48, 1892.
"To be without the graces of the Spirit of God is sad indeed; but it is a
more terrible condition to be thus destitute of spirituality and of Christ
and yet try to justify ourselves by telling those who are alarmed for us
that we need not their fears and pity. Fearful is the power of
self-deception on the human mind! What blindness-setting right for darkness
and darkness for light! The True Witness counsels us to buy of Him gold
tried in the fire, white raiment, and eyesalve. The gold here recommended as
having been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich,
for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested the more
brilliant is its luster."-4 Testimonies, 88 (1876).
"How vain is the help of man when Satan's power is exercised over a human
being who has become self exalted and who knows not that he is partaking of
the science of Satan. In his self-confidence he walks right into the enemy's
trap and is ensnared. He did not heed the warnings given and was taken as
Satan's prey. If he had walked humbly with God, he would have run into the
trysting place God had provided for him. Thus in times of danger he would
have been safe, for God would have lifted for him a standard against the
enemy."-Letter 126, 1906.
"The world, who act as though there were no God, absorbed in selfish
pursuits, will soon experience sudden destruction, and shall not escape.
Many continue in the careless gratification of self until they become so
disgusted with life that they kill themselves.
"Dancing and carousing, drinking and smoking, indulging their animal
passions, they go as an ox to the slaughter. Satan is working with all his
art and enchantments to keep men marching blindly onward until the Lord
arises out of His place to punish the inhabitants of earth for their
iniquities, when the earth shall disclose her blood and no more cover her
slain. The whole world appears to be in the march to death."-Evangelism, 26
(Manuscript 139, 1903).
"What a victory you will gain when you learn to follow the opening
providences of God with a grateful heart and a determination to live with
an eye single to His glory, in sickness or health, in abundance or want
Self is alive and quivering at every touch. Self must be crucified before
you can overcome in the name of Jesus and receive the reward of the
faithful."-4 Testimonies, 221 (1876).
"God cannot connect with those who live to please themselves, to make
themselves first. Those who do this will in the end be last of all. The sin
that is most nearly hopeless and incurable is pride of opinion, self-conceit
This stands in the way of all growth. When a man has defects of character,
yet fails of realizing this; when he is so imbued with self-sufficiency
that he cannot see his fault, how can he be cleansed? "They that be whole
need not a physician, but they that are sick' (Matthew 9:12). How can one
improve when he thinks his ways perfect? "-7 Testimonies, 199-200 (1902).
"Those who think that they can receive the blessing of God at this meeting
(a council meeting in Michigan] without humiliation of self will go away
just as they came. They will have as much perplexity as they had before.
But, brethren and sisters, we cannot afford this. Let us humble our hearts
before God. Let us allow Christ to anoint our eyes with the heavenly
eyesalve that we may see. We do not want to be blind; we want to see
everything distinctly. We do not want to be marching one day toward Canaan,
and the next day back to Egypt, and the next day toward Canaan, and then
back to Egypt again. Day by day we are to march steadily forward. It makes
my heart ache, it fills me with the keenest sorrow, to think of the precious
blessings we are losing because we are so far behind the light "-Manuscript
56, 1904. .
"True self-knowledge leads to a humility that will open the way for the
Lord to develop the mind and mold and discipline the character:'-Counsels to
Teachers, 419 (1913).
"He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He
walked' (1 John 2:6). 'Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is
none of His' (Romans 8:9). This conformity to Jesus will not be unobserved
by the world. It is a subject of notice and comment. The Christian may not
be conscious of the great change, for the more closely he resembles Christ
in character, the more humble will be in his opinion of himself; but it will
be seen and felt by all around him.
"Those who have had the deepest experience in the things of God are the
farthest removed from pride or self-exaltation. They have the humblest
thoughts of self and the most exalted conceptions of the glory and
excellence of Christ They feel that the lowest place in His service is too
honorable for them."-5 Testimonies, 223 (1882).
"Men are tested and proved not only before human intelligences but before
the heavenly universe. Unless they fear and tremble for themselves, unless
they realize their own weakness and remember their past failures, striving
to guard against repeating them, they will make the same mistakes, which
were attended with results that they cannot afford the second time."
Manuscript 43, 1898.
'Wrongs cannot be righted, nor can reformations in conduct be made by a few
feeble, intermittent efforts. Character building is the work, not of a day,
nor of a year, but of a lifetime. The struggle for conquest over self, for
holiness and heaven, is a lifelong struggle. Without continual effort and
constant activity, there can be no advancement in the divine life, no
attainment of the victor's crown.”-Ministry of Healing. 452 (1905).
"Let not self wax to great proportions lest the whole man be defiled. One
leak will sink a ship, and one flaw break a chain; so there may be some
hereditary or cultivated trait of character that will work in the heart
and develop into words that will make an impression for evil which will
never be effaced. We are all building for eternity. Let the character have
the impress of the divine in pure, noble utterances, in upright deeds.
Then the whole universe of heaven will behold and say, Well done, good and
faithful servant"-Letter 91, 1899. |